7/7 Tass 204
MOSCOW, July 7 (Itar-Tass) — The index of consumer confidence in Russia, reflecting combined consumer expectations of population has risen by four percent in the second quarter of this year as against the first quarter, amounting to minus nine percent as compared with minus 13 percent, reports on Thursday Rosstat (Federal Service for State Statistics) by the results of a random research of consumer expectations of population in the second quarter of 2011.
The rise in the index level of consumer confidence was accompanied by positive changes in all its components. For instance the index of expected changes in the Russian economic situation for a short-term perspective stood at minus 0.2 percent and rose by 4.8 percentage points as against the first quarter of 2011.
The share of respondents, negatively assessing expected changes in the economic situation, totalled 20 percent. A total of 22 percent of the polled expected positive changes in the country’s economy during the next 12 months.
The index of changes, made in the Russian economy, rose to minus seven against minus 12 percent in the first quarter.
The share of respondents, negatively appraising changes, made in the economic situation, totalled 30 percent, while the share of positive assessments climbed by one percentage point, amounting to 21 percent.
The index of expected changes in the personal material position totalled minus three percent, which is by five percentage points higher than the level of the first quarter of 2011. The share of the polled, waiting for improvement of their material position within the next 12 months, remains at the previous level (13 percent).
Deterioration of their material standing is forecast by 16 percent of respondents as against 23 percent in the first quarter. A total of 58 percent of the polled reckon that their material position will not change during the year.
The index of changes, occurred in the personal material standing increased by four percentage points, totalling minus 10 percent as compared with minus 14 percent in the first quarter. The share of respondents, positively assessing changes in their material position within the year, amounted to 13 percent. Around 30 percent of the polled believe that their material position deteriorated.
The index of favourable conditions for major purchases stood at minus 23 percent, which is higher by five percentage points than the level in the first quarter. The index of favourable conditions for cash saving amounted to minus 39 percent and rose by four percentage points as compared with the first quarter.
A rise of the index of consumer confidence was registered in all age groups of population as against the first quarter: young people in the 16-29 age group by seven percentage points, the middle-age group (30-49 years) – by five percentage points and the age group of 50 and more – by three percentage points.
The index of expected changes in the Russian economic situation rose among young people from plus one to plus seven percent as compared with the previous quarter, people in the middle-age group – from minus seven percent to minus 0.5 percentage points and in the old age group – from minus six percent to minus five percent.