Consumer confidence highest in emerging Asia Pacific

The survey also showed that global consumer confidence is returning to pre-recession levels.

Out of 55 countries surveyed, 41 posted a rise in confidence which, according to the figures, is strong evidence that the world is recovering from the harshest recession in decades.

According to this survey consumer sentiment was highest in India, followed by Indonesia and Norway.

Dr. Venkatesh Bala of Nielsen said:"Conventional wisdom was that there would be a slow recovery and there have been several signs of stabilization and green shoots in the past 12 months, but Q1 of this year presented the first global show of force towards economic recovery".


Globally, the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index averaged a reading of 92 points in the first quarter, six points higher than in the third quarter of 2009 and the highest level since the third quarter of 2007.

In China, consumer confidence rebounded to 107 points from 101 six months ago, just one point below its record of 108 in the first quarter of 2005 while in India the index reached 127, seven points up from 120 in the third quarter of 2009.

The other Asian countries which figured in the list of top ten countries with highest consumer confidence included the Philippines and Singapore.

The survey of more than 27,000 consumers in 55 countries, showed consumer confidence declined in seven of 28 European countries, with Greece reporting the largest fall.

In North America, nearly 60 percent of Canadians saw good or excellent job prospects over the next 12 months, compared with 23 percent of Americans.