Indonesians hopeful of economic outlook

Indonesians hopeful of economic outlook

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian consumers are confident about the
country's economic outlook despite their concern over high
inflation.

According to a recent survey conducted by Mastercard
International, 88 percent of Indonesian consumers surveyed were
either neutral or optimistic about employment prospects.

Around 93 percent of Indonesian consumers were neutral or
confident of a prosperous future, and only 1 percent was worried
about a regular income in the future.

These findings were reported in the latest bi-annual
MasterIndex of Consumer Confidence, a survey of consumer
confidence in 10 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
Between 500 and 522 consumers from middle and upper income groups
were surveyed in each country in June 1995.

The survey was conducted in Indonesia, Australia, Hong Kong,
India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and
Taiwan.

"Consumer confidence in Indonesia is soaring, which is a very
positive sign," Brian Thom, the senior official of Mastercard
International, was quoted by the report as saying. "However, our
survey revealed that inflation remains a concern across the
entire region."

In Malaysia, the survey found a positive shift in opinion,
with 75 percent of respondents optimistic about the future of the
economy, up from 64 percent in the last survey. The view on
employment also improved - up from 48 percent to 65 percent.

On the whole, Singaporeans have no strong feelings - either
negative or positive - about their future prospects, with 55
percent neutral about regular income prospects, 58 percent
neutral on employment prospects and 42 percent neutral on the
future of the economy.(hen)