Philippine consumers most optimistic consumers in SEA

SEA consumers remain the world's most optimistic.

Southeast Asian consumers remain the world’s most optimistic according to the latest Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending released recently.

According to a release from Nielsen, at the close of 2015, consumer sentiment in the region saw a one-point improvement with an average Consumer Confidence Index score across all Southeast Asian markets of 110.

The Philippines leads in optimism in the region with an index score of 117, unchanged since the previous quarter. Indonesia follows with a score of 115, down one point from Q3.

Meanwhile, consumer optimism rose notably in Thailand (up 3 points to 114), Vietnam (up 3 points to 108) and Malaysia (up 2 points to 80). In contrast, Singapore saw consumer confidence fall seven points to a score of 94 in the fourth quarter.

Here's more from Nielsen:

The Nielsen consumer confidence index measures perceptions of local job prospects, personal finances and immediate spending intentions, among more than 30,000 respondents with Internet access in 61 countries. Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism.

“The positive consumer sentiment in Southeast Asia’s dynamic developing markets continues unabated,” says Regan Leggett, Consumer Insights Director in Southeast Asia, North Asia and Pacific. “Indonesian and Filipino consumers consistently rank among the world’s most optimistic, and in this latest quarter we’ve seen Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia post positive jumps also.”

“In contrast to the rest of Southeast Asia, Singaporeans’ confidence levels took a substantial dip in the final quarter of 2015 amidst concerns over the stability of the Chinese economy and the effect of an interest rate rise in the United States,” notes Leggett.