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Inland Consumers Most Confident Among Asia-Pacific Consumers
Result of the Latest "Master Card Survey on the Confidence Index of Consumers in Asia-Pacific Region" has shown that China's mainland consumer confidence index is 79.1, ranking first among those of the Asia-Pacific region. It is the highest one since 1997 when the survey was first conducted, more than 10 points higher than that of New Zealand and Thailand, which ranked second and third respectively.
The survey was concluded in June this year. Among the 5,494 surveyed consumers of Asian-Pacific countries and regions, 600 are from the Chinese mainland. The general result shows that on the whole, consumers in the region adopt a cautious attitude toward the future. Only the consumers of China's mainland reported a continuous increase since the Asian financial storm. Shanghai consumers are most optimistic about the prospect in the next six months.
The result shows the high spirits of the Chinese people after Beijing's success in its Olympic bid, said Feng Weiquan, senior vice-president and general manager (China) of the Master Card International Organization. He noted that Beijing's success in the 2008 Olympic bid will play a positive role in boosting China's economic development, especially in the opening and development of its financial sector. Master Card International Organization is willing to enter into wholehearted cooperation with governmental organizations and member institutions and achieve the modernization of domestic business of payment.
Dr. Wang Yuehun, economic adviser to the organization, pointed out that the result of the survey shows the Asia-Pacific region still depends strongly on the US economy. However, the experience of the Chinese mainland proves that the economic development should be focusing on domestic consumption because consumers can attract investment and thus give a great impetus to economic growth. The Asia-Pacific region must take consumption as the guide and make the development more balanced, so as to tap potentials for further increase.
By PD Online Staff Member Du Minghua
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