Nielsen: Global consumer confidence up slightly

NEW YORK — Global consumer confidence held steady at an index of 94 for three consecutive quarters, ending 2013 one point higher than it started and three points higher than the same period the previous year, according to consumer confidence findings released Wednesday by Nielsen.

In North America, U.S. consumer confidence declined three index points in fourth quarter 2013 to 95, an increase of one point from the start of the year and five points from the same time period the previous year (Q4 2012). The recession was on the minds of nearly three-quarters (71%) of Americans, and the economy was the top concern for one-fourth (26%). Fourth-quarter discretionary spending intentions in the U.S. also declined from the gains reported in third-quarter 2013.

“While U.S. consumer confidence declined in the fourth quarter, the country is poised to be the key growth engine of the world economy in 2014,” suggested Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen. “One of the biggest challenges for the U.S. consumer will be getting wages and incomes to grow to support consumer demand, especially for the middle class.”

“Spending setbacks for many Americans translated to weaker-than-expected holiday sales at retail,” added James Russo, SVP global consumer insights, Nielsen. “Online intentions during the holiday season, however, fared better, as 46% said they shopped on Cyber Monday, an increase from 30% last year. As we enter 2014, the U.S. consumer remains cautious and pragmatic.”

Asia-Pacific posted the only regional confidence gain from the previous quarter, increasing one index point to 105, four points higher than fourth quarter 2012. Compared to third quarter 2013, consumer confidence declined three index points in North America (95), two points in Middle East/Africa (90) and one point in Europe (73); confidence remained flat in Latin America with an index of 94.

“Throughout 2013, consumers around the world remained in a virtual holding pattern as global unemployment showed few signs of progress during the year,” Bala said. “Recovery continues to move very slowly and is hampered by cash-strapped consumers who grapple with having little discretionary income after paying essential expenses. As 2014 progresses, a brighter outlook is expected, but sluggishness will continue until there is a marked improvement in the jobless rate and wages go up commensurate with rising costs.”

The Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions, established in 2005, measures consumer confidence, major concerns and spending intentions among more than 30,000 respondents with Internet access in 60 countries. Consumer confidence levels above and below a baseline of 100 indicate degrees of optimism and pessimism. In the latest round of the survey, conducted Nov. 11 to Nov. 29, 2013, consumer confidence increased in 43% of markets measured by Nielsen, compared to 57% in third quarter 2013.

Indonesia reported the highest consumer confidence index (124) for the fourth consecutive quarter, increasing four index points compared to third quarter. Portugal, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia each reported the lowest consumer confidence index of 44. Colombia reported the biggest quarter-on-quarter index increase of nine points for a score of 93; Portugal saw the biggest decline, decreasing 11 index points.

Nielsen information shows that around the world, discretionary spending intentions declined across all categories measured in fourth quarter 2013 and largely returned to fourth quarter 2012 levels. Spending on out-of-home entertainment (28%) decreased 7 percentage points from third quarter to hold steady with fourth quarter 2012. Intentions to spend on new clothes (31%), spend on holidays/vacations (32%), and invest in stocks and mutual funds (19%) each decreased 6 percentage points from the previous quarter, while saving intentions (47%), spending on new technology (24%) and spending on home improvement projects (20%) declined 5 percentage points each – within range of the same results from one year ago. Globally, 15% of online respondents said they had no spare cash, an increase from 13% reported in the previous quarter and on par with fourth quarter 2012 findings.

“Growth in developing markets is slowing, and with weaker prospects than before, they are competing for investment and financial resources as advanced economies recover,” Bala said. “Recession-minded consumers who are already challenged by rising living expenses showed a reluctance to spend leading up to the holiday season and kept their money in their wallets.”

According to Nielsen’s survey, more than half (57%) of global respondents believed their country was in an economic recession in fourth quarter 2013, a one-point decrease from the previous quarter and a two-point decrease from the same period last year (Q4 2012).

Respondents in three-quarters of the countries surveyed feel more recessionary effects now than they did at the start of the recession. Since first quarter 2008, 23 countries have reported double-digit recessionary sentiment increases, with the biggest changes in Finland (up 68 percentage points), Netherlands (47), Poland (43), Vietnam (37), Russia (31), Czech Republic (29), Ireland (25), Venezuela (24), Mexico (22) and India (20).

Meanwhile, recessionary sentiment has gradually declined among the world’s largest economies, including the U.S., which has reported a decrease in recessionary sentiment of 14 percentage points since first quarter 2008. Germany has seen a decline of 9 percentage points over the same period, and Japan’s recessionary outlook is down 3 percentage points.

“While the recovery has been painfully slow, it is important to point out that recovery in many key economies is on the right track,” Bala said. “The U.S., Germany, Japan and 33 other countries, which includes China, the United Kingdom and France, each ended 2013 with higher consumer confidence scores than at the start the year.”

In Europe, consumer confidence fell in 18 of 32 markets in fourth quarter 2013, with the biggest index declines coming from the previous quarter’s biggest gainers. Confidence declined 11 index points in Portugal, 10 points in France and six points in Belgium, compared to third quarter. However, the region’s largest economy, Germany, posted a confidence score of 95, three points higher than third quarter and eight points ahead of the same time period the previous year (Q4 2012).

“Europe has stabilized, but faces a long and gradual road to economic recovery,” Bala said. “While progress has been painfully slow, the relative levels of pessimism in the region are better than a year ago when many of Europe’s key economies hit all-time lows.”

“Germany’s healthy position among the euro-crisis countries throughout 2013 has once more impacted consumer confidence, which led to a record-high (since 2005) index reading,” stated Ingo Schier, managing director, Nielsen Germany. “With the election’s coalition agreement in sight when the Nielsen survey was fielded, stable political conditions as well as good economic perspectives for 2014 seem to have given a further boost in confidence. Not even the rise of inflation and especially the rise of food prices towards the end of the year dampened the positive atmosphere.”

All confidence indicators posted marginal gains in Asia-Pacific in the fourth quarter, with a 2-percentage point increase for job prospects (62%), a 1-percentage point increase for personal finances (62%) and a 3-percentage point rise for spending perceptions over the next 12 months (43%). Consumer confidence inc