The United Arab Emirates’ second-quarter score reversed a four-point decline in the first quarter with a five-point increase to 109, making it highest in the Africa / Middle East region, according to consumer confidence findings from Nielsen.
Job prospect sentiment improved nine percentage points (60% favorable), personal-finance sentiment was brighter, improving six percentage points (68% favorable) while immediate-spending intentions remain flat.
“Confidence in the UAE increased five index points in the second quarter after a four-point index decline at the start of the year amid an environment of volatile global oil prices,” said Arslan Ashraf, managing director, Nielsen Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan. “The second-quarter results showed that respondents were more confident about job prospects and personal finances than during the first quarter. But market dynamics have not changed significantly, and consumers were cautiously optimistic about spending intentions. They continue to be prudent with their expenses, especially when it comes to spending on new clothes, out-of-home entertainment and out-of-home dining.”
Established in 2005, the Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index is fielded quarterly in 63 countries to measure the perceptions of local job prospects, personal finances, immediate spending intentions and related economic issues of real consumers around the world. Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism, respectively.
GLOBAL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REMAINED IN A HOLDING PATTERN IN THE SECOND QUARTER
Global consumer confidence held steady in the second quarter of 2016 at 98, an index score that was flat from the first quarter. North America was the only region to sustain growth momentum in the second quarter with a three-point confidence increase to 111.
Global Highlights:
In North America, U.S. consumer confidence maintained positive momentum in the second quarter, increasing three points to 113 from the previous quarter.
In Asia-Pacific, confidence was relatively stable at 107, a one-point decrease from the first quarter. Japan’s confidence was of particular significance since it decreased four points to 69; it was Japan’s fourth consecutive quarter of declining scores, amid weak consumption and wage growth. Japan’s GDP has been on a declining trend since 1997 and is currently at 0.5%. Japan’s exports fell for the eighth consecutive month in May. China’s score increased one point to 106
In Latin America, confidence remained at 78, unchanged from the first quarter. Brazil’s score was flat at 74, while Peru’s score increased 11 points to 102.
In Europe, Germany’s confidence decreased one point to 96. Meanwhile, Nordic countries and Eastern Europe showed confidence increases in the second quarter.
CONFIDENCE IN AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST WAS RELATIVELY STABLE
In the six Africa/Middle East countries measured, confidence scores, which ranged from a high of 109 in the United Arab Emirates (a five-point increase from the first quarter) to a low of 78 in South Africa (a three-point increase) have been relatively consistent in each country over the past three or four quarters. Confidence in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan remained at 104 each, unchanged from the first quarter. Egypt’s score of 81 increased three points from the first quarter, while Morocco’s score of 83 declined one point.
