The mood among Dutch consumers improved further in May compared with April and is now on a par with the end of 2007, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS.

The consumer confidence indicator has climbed three points to reach -2 this month, meaning the number of pessimists still outweighs the optimists, but only just.

Consumer confidence has risen almost continuously since the summer of 2013, the CBS said. In February 2013, the index reached a record low of -44.