61% of Global Citizens Say Things in Their Country are On the Wrong Track

Toronto, Canada--A new Ipsos/canada.com poll released today shows that as the world's G-20 leaders gather in Toronto, Canada for their meeting, most leave behind majorities of consumer/citizens who believe things in their country are on the wrong track and are dissatisfied with how things are going in their country today.

And what may very well be driving the global state of negativity is what Finance Ministers and Central Bankers will need to heed in their deliberations: the simple building blocks of consumer confidence in most economies have yet to recover from the global recession, including lack of evidence that local economies are growing, job anxiety is high and positive assessments about personal financial fortunes now and in the coming months are low.

The global consumer/citizen survey conducted in May, 2010 contained interviews with 18,624 adults in 24 countries representing 75% of the world's GNP. The specific survey results reveal:

• Only 39% believe things are headed in the right direction:

Total May '10

Total - 39%
China - 77%
India - 64%
Indonesia - 64%
Saudi Arabia - 64%
Australia - 57%
Russia - 54%
Canada - 53%
Brazil - 49%
Poland - 45%
Sweden - 45%
United States - 39%
Turkey - 37%
Hungary - 34%
Great Britain - 31%
South Korea - 31%
Germany - 28%
South Africa - 27%
Italy - 24%
Mexico - 21%
Japan - 19%
Argentina - 18%
Spain - 17%
France - 17%
Belgium - 14%

• Only one third (35%) are satisfied with the way things are going in their country today...

Total May '10

Total 35%
India - 71%
China - 70%
Australia - 63%
Canada - 61%
Sweden - 54%
Germany - 52%
Saudi Arabia - 49%
Brazil - 44%
Poland - 40%
Turkey - 36%
Great Britain - 33%
South Korea - 31%
United States - 31%
Russia - 26%
Indonesia - 25%
South Africa - 24%
Japan - 21%
France - 21%
Italy - 20%
Belgium - 16%
Argentina - 15%
Hungary - 15%
Mexico - 11%
Spain - 10%

Other top-line global average findings indicate:

• Just 30% rate the current state of the economy in their local area as "Strong"
• Only 31% expect their local economy to be stronger six months from now
• 48% say someone in their family or someone they know personally has lost their job in the last six months as a result of economic conditions
• 58% indicate they're now less confident about job security for themselves, their family and other people they know personally compared to how they felt six months ago
• 20% say they, someone in their family or someone else they know personally will likely lose their job in the next six months
• Only 31% rate their current financial situation as "strong"
• Just 39% expect their personal financial situation to be stronger in the next six months

These are the findings of the Global @dvisor Wave 9 (G@9), an Ipsos survey conducted between May 12 and May 21, 2010. The survey instrument is conducted monthly in 24 countries simultaneously around the world via the Ipsos Online Panel system. The countries reporting herein are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America. For the results of the survey presented herein, an international sample of 18,624 adults age 18-64 in the US and Canada, and age 16-64 in all other countries, were interviewed. Approximately 1000+ individuals participated on a country by country basis via the Ipsos Online Panel with the exception of Argentina, Belgium, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey, where each have a sample approximately 500+. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to the most recent country Census data, and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points for a sample of 1,000 and an estimated margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20 per country of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in that country had been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Clifford Young
SVP & Managing Director
Ipsos Public Affairs
202.420.2016
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe. Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2009, Ipsos generated global revenues of e943.7 million ($1.33 billion U.S.). .

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