Indian consumers are the world''s most optimistic: ACNielson Global survey

22 February 2006

This positive outlook on job prospects and personal finances makes India an exciting country for consumer marketing. The country is witnessing a retail boom, with more and more consumers (66 per cent) excited about trying out new products and services. Apart from that, disposable incomes are venturing beyond traditional savings to investments in the stock markets. About 44 per cent of Indians are willing to take the plunge into the continuously bullish market. (Refer Chart I & II)

The ACNielsen Online Consumer Confidence and Opinion Survey, the largest half-yearly survey of its kind, is aimed at gauging current confidence levels, spending habits/intentions and current major concerns of consumers across the globe. The survey polled over 23,500 respondents in 42 markets from Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America and Emerging Markets

Looking back over the last six months, consumers in the Asia Pacific region and North America were the most optimistic, while the attitudes of Portuguese have worsened further over the previous six months.

"The positive outlook towards the job market has empowered Indian consumers with more disposable income than they have had at any time in recent history, creating a new set of consumers whose eagerness to splash out is not limited to the festive seasons," says Sarang Panchal, executive director, customised research services, ACNielsen South Asia.

"To capture the wallet of this new set of consumers, companies would be well advised to focus on innovative promotional activities with advertising and promotional budgets spread across the year, instead of concentrating them on festive occasions."

For the coming year, India is clearly the most optimistic country in the world. Indians have made a leap of faith and remain at the top of ACNielsen's global ranking, with a confidence index of 132 points - nine points ahead of the world's second most optimistic nation, New Zealand.