The IZA/Fable Swipe Consumption Index

Abstract This paper introduces a novel monthly consumption indicator: the IZA/Fable Swipe consumption index for Germany. It is based on credit card transactions data collected and anonymised by Fable Data from 2017 onwards. We study some of the properties of the data and use a so-called “one year look back rolling panel” method to construct a monthly consumption indicator expressed as a year on year percentage change. The data provisioning is fast and data is updated daily so that our indicator is stable with a 3 day lag. Moreover preliminary results for a month can be delivered as early as the middle of the month by comparing months partially. Our indicator is a new experimental early indicator ideal for nowcasting purposes and forecasting of breaking trends in consumer behaviour.