Malaysian Consumers still confident

(Marketingmagazine.com.my) – The Malaysian consumer confidence remain stable at the start of the first quarter of 2016 with 79 percentage points (pp) (dipping one point from previous quarter), according to the latest Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions released today by Nielsen, a global performance management company.

In the latest online survey, confidence levels in Southeast Asia continue to remain resilient with four out of six countries in the region scoring above the 100 pp mark. The Philippines (119 pp, +2 pp from last quarter), Indonesia (117 pp, +2), Vietnam (109 pp, +1) and Thailand (105 pp, -9) are the bright spots in the region’s growing and emerging market as they retain their titles as the top 10 most confident countries globally while Singapore scored 88 pp (-6).

Globally, Malaysia held on to its ranking as 36th most confident country in Q1 2016 (unchanged from last quarter). The average global consumer confidence is 98 pp (-1 pp from previous quarter).

Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.

“With no real changes in the economic outlook, Malaysians’ confidence remains low and we see that this trend will continue to be the case until the pressure on the Ringgit ease. Only when the pressure of the Ringgit improves, can consumers start to feel the burden of their day-to- day spending lessen.” said Richard Hall, Country Manager of Nielsen Malaysia.

The Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions, measures consumer confidence, perceptions of local job prospects, major concerns and spending intentions amongst more than 30,000 respondents with Internet access 1 in 63 countries.