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GfK: Population's confidence index in 2012 at its highest since crisis onset
The population's confidence index measured by the Consumer Confidence Barometer conducted by GfK Romania for the European Commission was at its highest in 2012 since the crisis onset, reaching an annual average of -37.
'2012 was an election year, we had local election in June, as well as parliamentary election in December. In these periods, the Romanians are usually more sensitive to the promises of the candidates, this being one of the reasons behind this constant increase in the population's confidence index. In addition, December is the time when the magic of Christmas helps lift the spirits of the Romanians,' GfK Romania Managing Director Andi Dumitrescu said.
Over half of the polled said last month that their family's financial situation is worse than in Dec. 2011, while only one in ten of the respondents said their financial situation has improved. As for their financial prospects, only 28 percent said it would get worse, compared to Dec. 2010 when over half of the population had the same gloomy expectations. The number of the people showing more optimism is 6 percent higher than in Dec. 2010 and 2011, standing at 21 percent.
68 percent of the population believe the general state of the economy suffered a downturn in 2012 compared to 2011. Only 7 percent of the polled opine the general economic situation saw an improvement last year, while 21 percent of them are rather optimistic about 2013.
As regards the investments in durable goods, the number of the people who said in Dec. 2012 it was not a good time to purchase this kind of products, has plunged compared to Dec. 2011, with 55 percent of the respondents not planning to buy an important item for their home in 2013.
When it comes to their approach to savings, 78.5 percent of the population do not consider this is a time suitable for saving, whereas more than half said they can barely manage to cover their current expenses. The percentage of the people incurring debts fell from 26 percent in Dec. 2010 down to 19 percent in Dec. 2012.
The information comes from the Consumer Confidence Barometer, a survey co-financed by the European Commission and conducted monthly by GfK Romania. Data is representative for Romania's population aged 15 years and over. The poll sample is of 1,000 people interviewed every month.