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)