Consumer confidence at all time high: Survey

Mumbai, Feb 20 (UNI) Consumer confidence in India has increased considerably, which demonstrates a new wave of optimism across the country, says a survey conducted by the MasterCard Worldwide.

The survey conducted for the first half of 2008, which is carried twice a year and determines the index of consumer confidence for India, reveals that the confidence during the survey period was found to be the highest ever, with 86.6 points on a scale of 100.

''The current index of 86.6 is the higest record for India since the survey commenced in 2004. It is significantly higher, when compared to the second half of 2007 survey results, when this index was found to be 63.6,'' said Nitin Gupta head of the South Asia operations of the MasterCard Worldwide Nitin Gupta while releasing the findings here today.

Interestingly, the index level was the highest on all five factors that are taken into account, while undertaking the survey. The five factors include employment, economy, regular income, stock market and quality of life.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, Director General of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) said, ''The survey results are quite 'unexpectedly buoyant' and reveals the increased optimism among middle-class consumers living in major Indian cities.'' The survey is conducted through South Asia, Middle East and Africa (SAMEA) region with a sample of urban individuals within the age group of 16-64 who own a bank account.

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