Consumers confidence grows to 2005s level
Valor Econômico
The confidence of the Brazilians in the economic and financial situation of the country, as well as in their personal accounts, was, in January this year, at the highest registered level since 2005. The National Consumer Confidence Index (INCC), measured by the Commercial Association of São Paulo (ACSP), was disclosed yesterday adn reached 149 points, three more than in December 2009.
The best results reached before the last two months were those from December 2008 and November 2006, when the index got to 145 points. The Northern and Midwestern regions were the last month's most optimistic ones. They registered 164 points in the INCC, followed by the South (160), Southeast (151) and Northeast (133) regions.
The inhabitants of the capitals and metropolitan regions are more confident than those of the interior. In the capitals, the average registered in the INCC was 160 points, in the metropolitan regions, it was 156, and in the interior it was 141 points. The survey also showed that the C class was the most optimistic one regarding the economy in January, with 161 points in the index. A and B Classes scored 141 points, and D and E classes scored 139 points.
The study indicated the Brazilian's expectation regarding their economic and financial condition in the coming months is good - 52% said they believe they will be in a "little better" situation, 24%, "more or less"; 12%, "much better"; 7%, "a little worse"; 2%, "much worse"; and 3% did not answer.