CCI Improves in December 2014 Supported by Holiday Spirit

Following a very low base reached in 2013 and trailing since 2011, ARA Marketing Research & Consultancy recently published the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for the month of December 2014. The latter increased for the third month in a row in December to reach a level of 84 points compared to 71 recorded in November. In fact, consumer confidence improved significantly in December boosted by the holiday season and the improvement in the security situation, which will weigh positively on the outlooks of Lebanese for the coming year. This was reflected by the 13 points and 3 points monthly rises in the Expected Economic Situation and the Expected Personal Income sub-indices that reached 68 points and 67 points, respectively. While consumers seem to be more optimistic regarding their personal income level in the six coming months than they were in November, demand for durable goods increased due to the festivities period with the related index advancing by 27 points to settle at 104 points. Similarly, the Present Economic Situation Index revealed a 16 points uptick to 147 points from November’s level while the end of year bonuses were mainly behind the 52 points surge in the Present Personal Income sub-index that hit the 101 points by the end of December 2014. Noting the importance of local and regional security conditions on consumers’ confidence, December’s relatively stable situation enhanced the level of the Present Security Situation Index that improved from 136 points in November 2014 and from 41 points in December 2013 to 147 points in December 2014.

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