Karachi: Economic concerns continue to chase the Pakistani, while optimism has increased to their highest levels, according to a Ipsos consumer confidence survey on the occasion of the first anniversary of the current government.
Seven out of 10 Pakistanis believe that the country is on the ‘incorrect’ track, with the global average of incorrect road feelings found in 63 percent, slightly below Pakistan’s figure.
However, optimism on the country’s direction has increased significantly in the first quarter of 2025 (31pc) compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 (19pc), reaching its highest level in six years.
Economic concerns continue to eclipse everyone else, but have decreased significantly in 2025, with inflation in 18 % during the past year, marking their lowest level in four years.
The survey shows that 88pc Pakistani are not comfortable by buying household items
The report pointed out that two in three Pakistani describe the country’s current economic status as weak, while the number of people who consider it has increased five times since the first quarter of 2024.
Home purchases
Eighty -eight percent of Pakistani do not feel comfortable making daily purchases for the home. However, during the past year, comfort with these purchases has tripled.
Although 69pc is still concerned, optimism about local economic conditions has changed significantly, since 12 in the afternoon in August 2024 to 31 % in February 2025, reaching the highest level since the monitoring of consumer confidence in Pakistan began, according to the survey report.
Three out of five Pakistani expect their personal financial conditions to weaken in the next six months, while one in five remains optimistic. This optimism has constantly increased since August 2024.
About 88 percent of Pakistani do not feel safe to invest in the future. However, confidence in future savings has increased by 30 percent since last year.
The report also indicated that although the confidence in the realization of important purchases has increased slightly, it is still low by 6 percent.
Eight out of 10 Pakistani do not feel safe about their work, while 19 percent feel safe, with the average men and income groups being the safest, reaching the highest level of confidence since the consumer confidence index (CCI) began tracking.
Posted in Dawn, March 1, 2025
