Consumers across the globe become more optimistic and confident

 A quarterly survey by The Nielsen Company, conducted between September 28 and October 16 showed that global consumer confidence is bouncing back with the United States reporting a positive trend for the first time since 2007.

Highest confidence levels were recorded in India, Indonesia and Norway with the weakest reported in Japan, Latvia, Portugal and South Korea. Yet in Korea the index has significantly improved.

Consumer sentiment in the United States, which is the world’s largest consumer market, increased from three months ago for the first time since early 2007. On the other hand, the data released on Tuesday in a Conference Board index of U.S. consumer confidence shows that consumer confidence in the US deteriorated sharply.

The U.S. reading in The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence survey at 84 was up 4 points from a similar survey in July but just below the global average reading of 86 and well below India's score of 120 and Indonesia on 115.

A reading above 100 is considered optimistic. The global average was up four points from a similar survey in July.

Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index in October 2009:

Top 10 index readings Bottom 10 index reading

India 120 Taiwan 71

Indonesia 116 Czech Republic 69

Norway 110 Turkey 68

Vietnam 109 France 67

Brazil 108 Ireland/Estonia 66

Philippines 107 Romania 65

Australia 106 Hungary 58

Arab Emirates 102 Lithuania 54

China 101 Portugal/S.Korea 53

Denmark/New Zealand 100 Latvia/Japan 49