China's consumers are highly optimistic about their future, with
confidence in their life quality and income, according to the
latest survey conducted by the MasterCard International.
The survey found consumers' confidence index reached 82.3 on the
Chinese mainland. Though their confidence about employment dipped
slightly to 78.9, their confidence about stocks rose from 50.1 for
the first half of last year to 53.9.
Consumers in Beijing and Shanghai became more confident than six
months earlier, with those in Guangzhou the most optimistic among
people from Chinese metropolises, according to the survey.
Senior economists with the MasterCard International said strong
confidence would buoy continuous consumption on the mainland, which
was very important to a sustained, strong growth in the national
economy, particularly in a period when investment tended to slow
down.
(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2006)
