Economic Pulse of the World - August 2018

Global average of national economic assessment down two points: 46%

After an uptick last month, the average global economic assessment of national economies surveyed in 28 countries is down two points this wave with 46% of global citizens rating their national economies as ‘good’.

China (90%) gaining more ground since last sounding and remains at the top spot in the national economic assessment category this month, followed by Saudi Arabia (83%), Germany (78%), India (76%), Sweden (71%), the United States (64%) Australia (63%), Israel (61%), Belgium (58%), Malaysia (57%), Canada (57%) and Peru (55%). Argentina (13%) takes over the lowest spot in this assessment, followed by Brazil (15%), South Africa (17%), South Korea (20%), Italy (25%), France (25%), Spain (27%), Hungary (27%), Mexico (28%) and Russia (32%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Sweden (71%, +8 pts.), China (90%, +8 pts.), Belgium (58%, +4 pts.), Spain (27%, +2 pts.), Saudi Arabia (83%, +2 pts.), the United States (64%, +1 pts.) and Peru (55%, +1 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: Chile (51%, -10 pts.), Hungary (27%, -9 pts.), Malaysia (57%, -9 pts.), Argentina (13%, -7 pts.), Canada (57%, -7 pts.), Great Britain (41%, -5 pts.), Poland (51%, -5 pts.), South Korea (20%, -5 pts.), Germany (78%, -4 pts.) and Mexico (28%, -4 pts.).

Global average of local economic assessment (35%) unchanged

When asked to assess their local economy, over one third (35%) of those surveyed in 28 countries agree that the state of the current economy in their local area is ‘good’. The local economic assessment is unchanged since last sounding.

China (82%) is the top country in the local assessment category, followed by Germany (60%), Israel (59%), Saudi Arabia (57%), Sweden (56%), India (55%), the United States (54%), Canada (46%), Chile (45%) and Australia (42%). Remaining at the bottom of this assessment category, Serbia (15%) is the lowest ranked country this month, followed by Spain (17%), South Africa (17%), South Korea (17%), Japan (18%), Argentina (18%), Brazil (19%), Russia (20%), Italy (21%), Hungary (21%), France (22%) and Mexico (23%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: China (82%, +14 pts.), Sweden (56%, +9 pts.), Serbia (15%, +5 pts.), Belgium (37%, +4 pts.), Japan (18%, +3 pts.), Argentina (18%, +3 pts.), the United States (54%, +1 pts.), Peru (33%, +1 pts.) and Israel (59%, +1 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines in this wave: Chile (45%, -10 pts.), Malaysia (37%, -10 pts.), Saudi Arabia (57%, -6 pts.), Hungary (21%, -3 pts.), India (55%, -3 pts.), South Korea (17%, -3 pts.), Australia (42%, -2 pts.), Germany (60%, -2 pts.), Great Britain (29%, -2 pts.) and Turkey (32%, -2 pts.).

Global average of future outlook for local economy (29%) unchanged

The future outlook remains unchanged since last sounding, with nearly one third (29%) of global citizens surveyed in 28 countries expecting their local economy to be stronger six months from now.

China (72%) is at the top of this assessment category this month, followed by India (58%), Saudi Arabia (58%), Mexico (53%), Peru (53%), Brazil (50%), Chile (45%), Malaysia (38%), Turkey (36%), Argentina (35%) and the United States (32%). France (9%) has the lowest future outlook score this month again, followed by Japan (11%), Great Britain (12%), Hungary (14%), Belgium (14%), South Korea (14%), Sweden (16%), Russia (16%), Israel (17%), Germany (18%) and Spain (18%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: China (72%, +18 pts.), Peru (53%, +11 pts.), Mexico (53%, +6 pts.), Turkey (36%, +3 pts.), Sweden (16%, +3 pts.), Belgium (14%, +3 pts.) and Argentina (35%, +3 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines in this wave: Malaysia (38%, -13 pts.), South Korea (14%, -8 pts.), Chile (45%, -7 pts.), Italy (21%, -4 pts.), Spain (18%, -4 pts.), Hungary (14%, -2 pts.), Serbia (20%, -2 pts.) and Great Britain (12%, -1 pts.).