omniture

China Consumer Confidence Holds Up in May Despite of the Earthquake Disaster

2008-05-28 10:44 3777

SHANGHAI, May 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua Finance eziData China Consumer Confidence Index (CCCI) was updated today, with the survey results showing that Chinese consumer confidence in May remained unchanged from that in April at 94.9, despite of the serious earthquake disaster which happened in Wenchuan, Sichuan province earlier in the month. For a graphical illustration of the Xinhua Finance eziData China Consumer Confidence Index, please visit http://www.xinhuafinance.com/en/charts/indicator/ccci/ccci0805_en.jpg .

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200611140926.gif )

A comparison of the data collected before and after the earthquake on May 12 indicates that, although consumer confidence showed a considerable drop on the day of the earthquake, it picked up quickly starting the very next day, resulting in an only 1-point-or-so drop in the post-earthquake data in both the overall consumer confidence as well as confidence on the current conditions and future expectations compared to that before the earthquake. This is an evidence of strong confidence on the part of the consumers in the Chinese economy as well as in the Chinese government.

Under the support of the Xinhua Finance family, Xinhua Finance eziData China Consumer Confidence Index is produced monthly by eziData, a local provider of China consumer data, and in association with Dr. Richard Curtin. Dr. Curtin is Research Professor and Director of the Consumer Sentiment Surveys at the University of Michigan's Institute of Social Research. The survey this month was conducted through 1,539 telephone interviews from May 1 to 18, 2008. April 2007 survey results are set as the benchmark value of 100. More on the survey methodology can be found in the accompanying section.

The rebound of the stock market and the easing of the general price rises in May have helped improve consumer sentiment on personal finances in terms of both current conditions and future expectations, with no immediate impacts from the earthquake. The impacts of the earthquake were largely reflected in consumers' future expectations on business conditions: after the earthquake, consumer sentiment on the outlooks on one-year and five-year business conditions fell by 3 to 6 points. eziData will pay close attention to the changes in the next few months to determine the future trend.

The earthquake has had certain impact on consumers' allocation of their income. A comparison between the data before and after the earthquake showed a drop in the latter in terms of daily expenses as well as durable purchases, yet a rise in terms of savings and investments. Apparently, the disaster has stimulated consumers to reduce expenses and save more for emergency use, or to invest more to prepare for the long term. It is still too early to tell whether this was a temporary phenomenon or a lasting one, and the eziData analysts will keep tracking the data in the next few months.

The earthquake has also had impacts on consumers' expectations on the price rises. Upon the news of the earthquake, sentiment on future price rises kept rising, showing concerns on the part of the consumers about higher general prices under the earthquake impacts. eziData will keep tracking the trend in the next few months.

In terms of major cities, consumer sentiment in May fell sharply in Beijing and slightly in Shanghai, but rebounded in Guangzhou after a plunge in the city in April.

Sentiment among Beijing consumers went further down by a full 5.9 points in May to 89.3, becoming the lowest reading in consumer confidence among the three major cities, though it had been the highest reading the month before. And among the five components of the overall confidence index, all three constituting future expectations plunged, with the largest drop occurring in the five-year business outlook.

Sentiment among Shanghai consumers fell a slight 0.6 point to 93.5 in May after a 2.9-point rebound in April. Current conditions fell for the third month in a row, yet future expectations remained basically unchanged from the previous month. And among the five components of the confidence index, current personal finances as well as outlook on one-year personal finances fell, yet outlook on future business conditions kept rising, with the mid-long term business outlook rising by a full cumulative 15 points in the last two months.

Consumer sentiment in Guangzhou recouped 3.9 points to 92.2 in May entirely due to a strong rise in future expectations, as current conditions remained basically unchanged. And among the five components of the confidence index, a strong rebound in one-year personal finances was detected, while confidence in future business conditions improved only modestly.

Consumer Voices:

*This is quite a year for China, with all the snow storms and earthquakes, and the rising food prices and falling stock prices. However, we are seeing a great government, and I am sure that with this government China will keep developing, and all this will go by.

To find more about CCCI or subscribe to a full version of the survey, please contact us via info@eZiData.com

Methodology

Xinhua Finance eziData China Consumer Confidence Index is produced in association with Dr. Richard Curtin, Research Professor and Director of the Consumer Sentiment Surveys at the Institute of Social Research, University of Michigan. The index is based on a monthly survey of around 1,500 Chinese households via stratified random sampling in 50 representative cities across East, Middle and West China using the same methodology as is used by the University of Michigan. All data is collected via computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). Index of April 2007 survey is set as the benchmark (100).

Notes to editors:

About Xinhua Finance Limited

Xinhua Finance Limited ("XFL") is China's premier financial information and media service provider and is listed on the Mothers Board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399) (OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial markets and the world, Xinhua Finance's proprietary content platform, comprising Indices, Ratings, Financial News, and Investor Relations, serves financial institutions, corporations and re-distributors worldwide. Through its subsidiary Xinhua Finance Media Limited (NASDAQ: XFML), XFL leverages its content across multiple distribution channels in China including television, radio, newspaper, magazine and outdoor media. Founded in November 1999, XFL is headquartered in Shanghai, with offices and news bureaus spanning 12 countries worldwide.

For more information, please visit http://www.xinhuafinance.com .

About eziData

eziData is a local provider of China consumer data, serving both financial and consumer market participants. It aims to serve global and local business professionals with decision-making tools that relate to consumption in China and conform to international standards. eziData's comprehensive portfolio of high-quality consumer data products, which includes a structured real-time databank, delivers a broader and more insightful view of the market. For more information, please visit http://www.eziData.com .

Source: Xinhua Finance
Related Stocks:
OTC:XHFNF
Keywords: Food/Beverages
collection