Local consumer confidence rises modestly: reportREAL-ESTATE WOES: While the willingness to spend improved, housing sentiment remained weak, with the home-buying index falling to minus-42.2By Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwanese consumer confidence improved modestly this month, supported by a stable economic outlook and rising optimism toward local equities, although concerns over inflation and a sluggish housing market continued to weigh on sentiment, a survey released yesterday by Cathay Financial Holding Co (國泰金控) showed. The figures suggest that consumer pessimism has eased, although confidence has yet to turn decisively positive. The improvement reflected greater confidence in income stability and employment conditions, Cathay Financial said. However, housing sentiment remained weak. The stock market confidence index rose to 37, while the risk appetite index climbed to 23.9, both near record highs, the survey showed.

Source: Taipei Times January 20, 2026 16:39 UTC