Consumer confidence continues high
Valor Econômico
After three consecutive quarters of growth, the National Index of Consumer Expectations (Inec) for the first quarter of 2010 has registered a 1% fall compared to the three prior months, according to the data gathered by the National Confederation of the Industry (CNI).
Regardless of the fall, the CNI has stressed out the index remains at a high level, at 116.0 points, the second highest of the series since 2001, only overcome by the three last months of 2009. Compared to the first quarter of 2009 (106.3 points), the index increased 9.7 points. In the period, the only component of the Inec that presented substantial growth was the debt ratio, which went from 107.2 to 111.8 points.
Among the greatest retreats stand out the expectation of evolution of the income itself that went from 119.6 to 114.6 points, and the expectation of inflation, leaving from 117.0 points to 115.5 points. The index of purchase of goods of greater value has also retreated, from 117.1 points to 112.7 points. As regards the indexes of expectation of unemployment (from 127.6 to 128.5 points) and financial standing (form 117.4 points to 117.9 points), they remained stable.
However, in the analysis of the CNI, all those indexes together continue reflecting the optimism of the consumer. On the highlight of the period, which was the evolution of consumer debt, the institution affirms that, "since it takes place together with the improvement of the financial condition, it shows the consumers, whose finances were rocked during the crisis last year, are paying their debts".