Consumer sentiment stabilises for third straight month

Saturday, 12 September 2026 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Consumer sentiment in the country continued its gradual stabilisation in August 2026, improving marginally to 81 from 80 in June, marking the third consecutive monthly rise since May 2026, according to the Consumer Sentiment Survey conducted by Prosoft Research & Insights.

This marks the first instance since January 2026 of consumer sentiment stabilising gradually over three consecutive months, the survey showed.

The uptick tracks movements in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), which rose only marginally to 209 in the same period, indicating that overall price levels are stabilising.

However, the August 2026 sentiment reading remains lower than the corresponding figure for August 2025, consistent with elevated year-on-year inflation during the period.

The Consumer Sentiment Index reached its highest level, 90, in September 2024, coinciding with the appointment of President Dissanayake. Its lowest point, 56, was recorded in June 2022, at the height of the Aragalaya protests and in the aftermath of the 9 June unrest that year.

The Consumer Sentiment Survey is conducted monthly by Prosoft Research & Insights, based on a sample of 200 respondents.