Rabat – Morocco’s household confidence index fell to 59.2 points in the third quarter of 2026, down from 60.1 points in the previous quarter, as households continued to face pressure from rising living costs and concerns over unemployment, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP).
Despite the quarterly decline, the index improved from 53.6 points recorded in the same period last year, the HCP said in its latest household confidence survey.
The survey shows that 76.3% of households believe their living standards deteriorated over the past 12 months, while 18.5% said they remained unchanged and 5.2% reported an improvement.
Around 51.7% of households expect their living standards to worsen over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, 39.6% expect no change, and 8.7% anticipate an improvement.
Unemployment concerns
Households also expressed pessimism about the labor market. According to the HCP, 61.3% expect unemployment to increase over the next 12 months, compared with 17.3% who anticipate a decline.
The balance of opinion on future unemployment stood at minus 44 points, worsening from minus 38.8 points in the previous quarter. However, it remained less negative than the minus 56.4 points recorded a year earlier.
The survey also found that 63.8% of households consider the current period unsuitable for purchasing durable goods, such as furniture and household appliances. Only 14.5% believe conditions are favorable for such purchases.
Financial pressure on households
The findings point to continued financial pressure, with 39% of households saying they need to borrow money or use their savings to cover expenses.
Meanwhile, 58.2% said their income covers their spending, while just 2.8% reported being able to save part of their income.
Looking at their financial outlook, 18.4% of households expect their financial situation to deteriorate over the next 12 months, compared with 16.5% who anticipate an improvement. The remaining 65.1% expect their situation to remain unchanged.
The outlook for savings was also weak, with 92.5% of households saying they do not expect to save money over the next 12 months.
Food prices remain a concern
Food prices continued to weigh heavily on household perceptions. The HCP found that 95.9% of households believe food prices increased over the past 12 months, while only 0.4% reported a decline.
Meanwhile, 77.9% expect food prices to rise over the next 12 months. Another 21.1% anticipate stable prices, while 1% expect prices to fall.
The household confidence index measures perceptions of living standards, unemployment, financial conditions, and the opportunity to purchase durable goods. Its rise compared with the third quarter of 2025 suggests an improvement over the year, although the latest results show that pessimism is widespread among Moroccan households.
