Mumbai: Consumer confidence remained high in India even though it is falling globally according to the finding of the ACNielsen Consumer Confidence and Opinions Survey for the first half of 2007.

Conducted in April 2007, the survey covered over 26,000 people, including more than 500 people from India. Indians remain confident of the job market and personal finance: 94 per cent are optimistic about employment prospects, compared with the regional and global averages of 50 and 52 per cent, respectively.

Indian consumers'' perception of the state of their personal finances is also encouraging: 90 per cent rate it as excellent or good (region: 54 per cent).

The survey also polled consumers on their major concerns. Compared with the last round, there is a sharp rise in Indians'' concern over the economy, with 46 per cent citing it as a major worry.

Across Asia, 41 per cent are concerned about the economy, compared with 37 per cent worried about health and 30 per cent about job security, lower than the global averages.

The survey also studies how spare cash is used after covering necessary living expenses.

Significantly, India moved down two places to become No 3 among those who invest in stocks and mutual funds even though more respondents (53 per cent) chose this option compared with the last round.