Consumer confidence improves for first quarter: BSP 

March 28, 2019

Consumer outlook improved for the first quarter, as the overall confidence index  rose to -0.5 percent from -22.5 percent in the fourth quarter, registering the largest quarter-on-quarter increase since the start of the nationwide survey in the first quarter of 2007.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ( BSP) said Thursday ''the higher, albeit negative, consumer index indicates that the number of households with optimistic views considerably increased, but was still lower than those who think otherwise.''

 A positive CI indicates a favorable view, except for the inflation rate, the peso borrowing rate, unemployment and change in prices, where a positive CI indicates the opposite.

The overall consumer CI measures the average direction of change in three indicators - overall condition of the economy, household finances, and household income. 

According to respondents, their improved outlook during the current quarter was mainly due to their  expectations of: additional or high income, improvement in peace and order, availability of more jobs, and good governance. 

Respondents anticipated stable prices of goods and salary increases for the next 12 months. DMS