The consumer confidence index (CCI) declined 0.35 points from October to 64.3, leaving the gauge broadly flat, the university’s Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development said. Consumer sentiment outlook remains highly sensitive to developments in US tariff policy, which are expected to become clearer in the first quarter of next year, center director Dachrahn Wu (吳大任) said. Photo: CNA“Once US tariff policies become clear, the direction of consumer confidence will be either very positive or very negative,” Wu said, underscoring the risk of heightened volatility in sentiment. The government’s business climate monitoring score rose two points from October to 37, remaining in the yellow-red zone for three consecutive months and just one point below a boom. However, gains remained uneven, with AI-related sectors leading growth in exports, production and employment, while traditional industries continued to face headwinds, Chen said.

Source: Taipei Times December 29, 2025 16:45 UTC