Consumers in China, India and Hong Kong are the world's most optimistic about their economic prospects, ACNielsen Corp. said, citing a twice-yearly survey.
"Consumers in these markets are benefiting from an economic boom," Esther Capistrano, managing director at ACNielsen's Philippine unit, said in an interview. "They also have a very positive outlook."
China's economy expanded 9.5 percent last year and 9.4 percent in the first quarter. India's economy probably grew 6.8 percent in the three months ended March 31, after expanding 6.2 percent in the preceding quarter. Hong Kong's economic growth picked up in the first quarter as tourists arrived in record numbers.
The Internet survey was conducted from April 11 to May 10, covering 21,261 consumers in 38 markets, including the US and Germany. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 13 of those markets and a third of the respondents.
Consumer optimism was highest in India, China and Hong Kong, where at least 71 percent of those polled expect economic improvement in the next 12 months. Consumers in the three markets were also the "most upbeat," with at least 70 percent saying their economies improved in the past six months.
As a region, Asia Pacific was the most optimistic in terms of economic performance and job prospects, edging Latin America, Europe and the US, the survey said.
RSS