Taipei: Taiwan’s consumer confidence reached a nine-month high in January, as uncertainties diminished following a verbal agreement on tariffs between Taipei and Washington on January 15, according to a survey released by National Central University on Tuesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the consumer confidence index (CCI) in Taiwan rose 2.86 points from the previous month to 67.16 in January, marking the highest level since April 2025, when the index was at 68.21. The survey, conducted between January 18 and 21, evaluates sentiment over the next six months across six key factors: consumer prices, the domestic economic climate, the stock market, durable goods purchases, employment prospects, and family finances.
All six sub-indexes showed improvement in January compared to the previous month. The sub-index for consumer prices saw the largest increase, rising to 37.34 in January, up 4.52 points from December. The stock market and family finances sub-indexes also experienced gains, rising 3.15 and 2.71 points, respectively, to 29.52 and 80.39.
Additionally, sub-indexes for the local economic climate, purchases of durable goods, and employment improved by 2.3, 2.26, and 2.2 points, respectively, reaching 83.69, 98.2, and 73.8 in January, as per the survey findings.
Under the verbal agreement, which awaits finalization due to pending tariff arrangements, the United States plans to reduce tariffs on Taiwanese goods from 20 percent to 15 percent. Dachrahn Wu, director of the NCU Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development, noted that the lower tariffs have significantly boosted sentiment in non-tech industries, leveling the playing field with Taiwan’s major competitors.
Wu also highlighted that as part of the agreement, Taiwan has committed to relocating some of its semiconductor supply chain to the U.S. through substantial investments, which will require ongoing monitoring for potential impacts. He further pointed out the benefits of Taiwan’s booming stock market, which has recently reached record highs, positively affecting retail investors, family finances, and the local economic climate.
Wu expressed concern over the need for Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties to set aside partisan conflicts to address the trade agreement, warning of potential economic repercussions. He referenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to increase tariffs on South Korean goods, citing delays in the approval of a Washington-Seoul trade deal.
In related developments, the home-buying index, jointly compiled by NCU and Taiwan Realty, rose by 2.32 points from the previous month to 94.95 in January. The December CCI survey gathered 2,971 valid responses from Taiwanese consumers aged 20 and older and has a confidence level of 95 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.