Virtually No Lift (+1) in Assessment of Global Economic Fortunes

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, they'll do so in the shadow of a mostly stagnant global consumer/citizen assessment of their national economies.

The global consumer citizen survey conducted regularly since April 2007 is produced monthly. This May, 2010 the survey contained interviews with 18,624 adults in 24 countries representing 75% of the world's GNP.

The highest positive level of the average global consumer/citizen assessment was in April, 2007 when 66% said their own national economy was `good' and was at its lowest in April 2009 at 29%--a plunge of 37 points while in the grips of a world wide recession. The average global consumer/citizen assessment has remained virtually stagnant since January, 2010 when it was at 38%.

Comparing the findings of this month to last month, the new survey results reveal:

• Four in 10 (39%) global citizens describe the current economic situation in their country as `good'. This is +1 point since the last survey in April (38%).
• Those countries where citizens indicate the greatest improvement in the assessment of their economy are from Brazil (+5 points), Saudi Arabia (+4 points), Sweden (+4 points) and Mexico (+3 points).
• Those countries where citizens indicate the greatest decline in the assessment of their economy are from Germany (-7 points), Great Britain (-5 points), China (-3 points) and Italy (-3 points).
• Regional Change from April: G8 Countries -3 points, European Countries -1 point, North America -3 points, LATAM +3 points, APAC +1 point, and BRIC no change.

The following is the ranked list of countries where citizen/consumers have assessed the economy on their own country. The numbers in the brackets equal the "+/-"of the individual country measurements since April, 2010:

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.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca .

About Ipsos

Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

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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