First MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence Survey: Qatar Consumers are Optimistic About the Future
Global Economic Circumstances Likely Impacting Outlook in Gulf Markets
MasterCard Worldwide today announced its latest MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence findings for the second half of 2008 for key markets across South Asia, Middle East and Africa (SAMEA). In the first measurement for this market, the Index results revealed that consumer confidence in Qatar is going strong at 88.6. Overall consumer confidence across the Middle East & Levant (ME&L) has slightly decreased, likely influenced by the global economic slow down,, sub prime crisis, increasing oil prices and rising inflation.
Commissioned by MasterCard Worldwide and conducted bi-annually in select markets in SAMEA, the survey analyses consumers’ perceptions of economic conditions over the six months ahead. The scores, ranging from 0 to 100, are based on responses on five variables: employment, economy, regular income, stock market and quality of life. A score of 50 represents the mid-point. A score above 50 indicates that consumers are optimistic about the economic climate, while a score below 50 signals that consumer are pessimistic about the economic situation. The markets surveyed are Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India and South Africa.
