The latest results from the recent Consumer Confidence Index study carried out by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s number one job site, and research and consulting organisation, YouGov, shows that residents in Lebanon have a positive outlook of the country’s economy, as well as their financial future with the consumer confidence index moving up by11.4 points compared to last quarter. The survey revealed that73% feel that the current salary is not in line with the cost of living, with41% stating buying consumer durables is not practical in the present situation.
According to the quarterly MENA Consumer Confidence Index survey by Bayt.com, prospects for the future appear quite positive from Lebanon survey takers, with46% believing that their financial position will improve in a year’s time, while a good19% claim it will stay the same and only10% believe it will get worse. In parallel,24% of Lebanon respondents expect that the country’s economy will get better within the same time frame. However, this claim won’t essentially mean an increase in the number of jobs. While69% feel there will be either no change or fewer jobs in a year’s time, only16% of Lebanon respondents think there will be more jobs available.
Similarly,29% seem pessimistic towards the possibility of increase in their organisation’s employee-count in the coming quarter, while only15% feel the opposite and believe that there will be a positive growth, and a good36% share a neutral outlook on the same. Likewise, companies addressing staffing requirements in the coming three months show that39% of Lebanon survey takers are neutral, with14% who seem optimistic and27% appear quite pessimistic.
“While a certain number of countries witnessed a drop in their Consumer Confidence Index since last quarter, the region’s overall sentiment towards the future remains positive. It will be interesting to see if the region can slowly, but surely reach a long-term period of true stability in the near future,”explained Amer Zureikat, VP Sales at Bayt.com.
With regards to the respondents’ present financial situation in Lebanon,35% have experienced no change, and the situation is worse for31% of survey-takers, while26% have had an improved financial position in comparison to the previous year. The survey’s respondents also remain doubtful on the current attitude towards purchasing of consumer durable goods, with41% of Lebanon respondents saying ‘now is a bad time to buy’. Only12% believe that this is a good time to buy, while40% stay neutral. Additionally, with62% of Lebanon residents opting to shy away from investments in property and59% from purchasing a car in the next12 months, only a mere18% will look into investing in properties and22% in a car. From those who are willing to do such investments in a year’s time,57% said they will be buying a ‘new’ property and56% a ‘new’ car, while36% said they will opt for a used one.
“We conduct our quarterly Middle East Consumer Confidence Index Survey in order to chart how consumer confidence levels are changing as the region goes through different economic cycles, and faces the challenges and pressures wrought by economic trends and events across the globe. This seeks to provide all stakeholders, from regional businesses to local organisations and HR professionals with up-to-date information that is both relevant and reliable as a snapshot of current market trends,” added Zureikat.
When it comes to employment, only14% of Lebanon respondents appear to be highly satisfied with their career prospects, while35% have neutral sentiments, and42% are displeased. Correspondingly, only22% appear to be highly satisfied with their career growth in their current organisation, while42% seem unhappy and31% are neutral.
“Gauging consumer opinion is a powerful tool for revealing the current attitudes and sentiments about the business and economic conditions in a specific country, and to see how these change overtime,” commented Sundip Chahal, Chief Operating Officer of YouGov.
Data from the Consumer Confidence Index survey shows that feelings towards the level of job security in Lebanon are relatively balanced with30% saying they are highly satisfied, while36% have neutral feelings towards their job security; and27% being unsatisfied.
Data for the quarterly Bayt.com Consumer Confidence Index (September2011) survey was collected online from24th August to20th September2011, with7,864 respondents from the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Pakistan. Males and females aged over18 years old, of all nationalities, were included in the survey.