Global Consumer Confidence: "We Start the New Year with Caution"

Nielsen Global Online Consumer Confidence Survey

Global Consumer Confidence: Concerns Around the World

"Global consumer confidence indexed at 91 in Q4 2012, a one-point decline from Q3 2012, but an increase of two points from Q4 2011, according to consumer confidence findings from Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy. However, the relatively flat global average across the last year does not tell the entire story. Across the 58 countries we measured in Q4 2012, confidence declined in 33 countries, remained flat in six countries, and increased in 19 countries relative to the prior quarter."

Global Online Consumer Confidence by Quarter
Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.




“Consumers around the world grappled with increasing economic concerns as the Euro zone crisis spread from troubled to core countries, the United States fiscal cliff threat loomed large, and China’s rising inflation sparked monetary policy action,” said Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen. “Consumers are proceeding with caution in 2013 and showed renewed discretionary spending restraint in the last quarter amid further global economic and political uncertainty.”

Global Online Consumer Confidence by Region
Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.



"Asia-Pacific (101) and Latin America (96) reported the only regional consumer confidence index increases in Q4, rising one and two points, respectively. Middle East/Africa declined two points to 96, North America dropped one point to 90, and Europe decreased three index points to 71, compared to Q3."

Confidence by Country

India is the most most optimistic country at 121, followed by Philippines 119, Indonesia 117, Thailand 115, United Arab Emirates 113, Saudi Arabia 112, Brazil 111, China 108, Malaysia 103, and Norway 102.

Greece is now the most pessimistic country at 35, followed by Hungary 37, South Korea 38, Portugal 38, Italy 39, Croatia 42, Spain 46, France 52, Slovakia 57, and Japan 59.

U.S. Consumer Confidence

Consumer confidence in the U.S. decreased -1 to 89, which is upper mid-tier worldwide. Previous readings were 90 in Q3 2012, 87 in Q2 2012, 92 in Q1 2012, 83 in Q4 2011, 77 in Q3 2011, 78 in Q2 2011, 83 in Q1 2011.

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