Local consumer confidence hit its highest level in more than four years last month, with public expectations over the job environment in the next six months showing the strongest sign of improvement, a report released by National Central University showed yesterday.
The consumer confidence index (CCI) edged up to 73.16 points last month, from 65.98 in January, with all six sub-indexes registering increases, the university’s Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development said in the report.
“Besides seasonal factors, the results showed public satisfaction with the recovering economy,” Shia Ben-chang (謝邦昌), professor in the statistics and information science department at Fu Jen Catholic University, said by telephone yesterday.
As the economy continues to improve, the employment outlook sub-index rose 18.45 points to 61.95 last month, posting the strongest growth among all categories, the Taoyuan-based research center said.
“With the unemployment rate falling for three to four straight months, consumers have become more confident about the job market,” Shia said.
The survey, which polled 2,410 adults nationwide from Feb. 19 to Feb. 22, also showed that 65 percent of respondents thought the next six months would be a good time to buy durable goods.
Shia said it was the first time since July 2008 that consumers had expressed optimism toward buying durable goods over the next six months, with the sub-index rising to 101 points, from 91.55 in January.
“This sub-index has been on the rise for the past eight months. With increased confidence in the economy, the public is more willing to buy durable goods such as cars and houses,” he said.
In addition, the sub-index for stocks rose to 99.4 points — its second-highest score in history, after the 99.7 points recorded in January 2001, the report showed.
A CCI figure between 100 points and 200 points indicates growing optimism about the outlook for the next six months, while a score of less than 100 points shows increasing pessimism, the center said.
Shia said that with the economy continuing to pick up, the CCI should rise further in the second and third quarters, barring any non-economic factors.
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