Nielsen: Consumer Confidence Shows Significant Improvement in U.S., Western Europe; Most Developing World Markets Hold Steady

Discretionary Spending Intentions Increasing around the World

NEW YORK Oct. 30, 2013 Global consumer confidence indexed at 94 in Q3 2013, no change from Q2 2013 and an increase of two points from the same period last year (Q3 2012), according to consumer confidence findings from Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy.

In key developed economies, the U.S. saw consumer confidence increase eight index points to 98 from the same period 12 months ago, its highest score in six years (Q3 2007) and nearing pre-recession levels. Confidence in Germany increased six index points year-on-year to 92. Japan rose to an index of 74 from 59 in Q3 2012. France increased eight points to 61 from 53 in Q2 2013, and the U.K. reported an index of 87, the highest score since Q3 2007, up 10 points from Q3 2012.

Nielsen information shows that while consumers in India and Brazil remain some of the most confident in the world, confidence in these key growth economies continues to show modest downward movement over the last few quarters. India delivered a score of 112 for its third consecutive quarter of declines, and confidence in Brazil declined one index point to 109. China and Russia both held steady from Q2 2013 with index scores of 110 and 80, respectively.

Given the size and scale of these economies, it is encouraging to see significant gains in consumer confidence within the United States and Western Europe as we consider where we were last year and look ahead to 2014, said Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen. At the same time, we have to keep modest developing market declines in perspective. While India is significantly off peak optimism of 131 measured three years ago in 2010, it is still one of the largest and most confident countries in the world, and that has an impact on the entire region.

The Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions, established in 2005, measures consumer confidence, major concerns, and spending intentions among more than 30,000 respondents with Internet access* in 60 countries. Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism. In the latest round of the survey, conducted between Aug. 14 and Sept. 6, 2013, consumer confidence increased in more than half (57%) of global markets measured by Nielsen, compared to 45 percent in Q2 2013.

Ready to Spend Nielsen information shows that around the world, discretionary spending intentions increased across all categories measured in Q3 2013 compared to intentions from the previous quarter. Plans to buy new clothes (38%) and spend on holidays/vacations (38%), out-of-home entertainment (35%) and home improvements (25%) increased 5 percentage points each. Intentions to buy new technology products (29%) increased 4 percentage points compared to Q2 2013.

In line with confidence findings, it is not surprising to see that consumers are planning to increase their spending across all industries measured, which will be encouraging to many retailers as they get ready for the end-of-year holiday season, said Dr. Bala. However, its going to be a slow climb for conditions in the global economy to recover, and there is no sign of rapid expansion around the corner. Additionally, it remains to be seen if consumer concerns potentially caused by the recent U.S. government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis will have a lasting effect on consumer confidence.

Recession and Savings still on the Minds of Many According to Nielsens survey, more than half (58%) of global respondents believed they were in a recession in the third quarter, a three-point increase from the previous quarter, but a four-point decline from the same period last year (Q3 2012).

Double-digit recessionary-sentiment improvements were reported in key economies compared to last year (Q3 2012). The percentage of respondents in the U.K. who believed they were in a recession declined 18 points to 74 percent; recessionary sentiment in the U.S. decreased 13 points to 68 percent, Germany declined 12 points to 46 percent, and China decreased 13 points to 26 percent.

Double-digit recessionary-sentiment increases were reported in India, Brazil and Indonesia compared to last quarter (Q2 2013). Three-quarters of Indian respondents (76%) said they were in a recession in Q3 2013, an increase of 25 percentage points. More than half of Brazilians (55%) claimed they were in a recession, an increase of 14 percentage points, as did 65 percent of Indonesians, up 11 percentage points.

Globally, respondents reported an increase in plans to save for the future, with 52 percent of those surveyed putting spare cash into savings, and 25 percent investing in shares of stocks and mutual funds, an increase of 5 and 6 percentage points, respectively, compared to Q2 2013. Investment sentiment increased in 57 percent of all markets measured, with a return to pre-recession levels in China (56%), India (34%) and the U.S. (14%), up 14, 9 and 7 percentage points, respectively, compared to Q2 2013. Paying off debts, credit cards and loans was the priority for 28 percent of all respondents, an increase from 25 percent in Q2 2013.

Regional Highlights Consumer confidence in North America increased two index points to 98, the third consecutive quarter of increases and its highest level since Q3 2007. Confidence in Europe increased three index points to 74, the biggest quarterly increase since Q1 2010 and an improvement from three consecutive quarters measured at 71. Consumer confidence in Asia-Pacific declined one index point to 104, the first regional quarter-on-quarter decline since Q2 2012. Marginal consumer confidence increases were reported in Latin America and Middle East/Africa, increasing one index point each to 94 and 92,

LINK:	http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/press-room/2013/nielsen-consumer-confiden...
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