The index dropped to -49.8 points in April from -12.1 points in the previous month.

Consumer pessimism strengthened mainly due to the prospective level of unemployment but assessments of the future of the Hungarian economy also became dramatically negative, GKI said in a statement.

Peopleʼs expectations of their own financial position deteriorated relatively less and views on their ability to make savings decreased minimally, partly because a significant portion of consumers were already unable to make savings. 

The representative survey is based on interviews with 1,000 people.