The Economic Pulse of the World - February 2018

Global Average of National Economic Assessment Down One Point: 48%

The average global economic assessment of national economies surveyed in 28 countries is down one point this wave with 48% of global citizens rating their national economies as ‘good’.

China (88%) remains at the top spot in the national economic assessment category this month, followed by Germany (79%), Saudi Arabia (78%), Sweden (78%), India (77%), Australia (69%), Canada (66%), Israel (65%) and the United States (64%). Brazil (10%) has the lowest spot in this assessment, followed by Spain (17%), Italy (18%), South Africa (25%), South Korea (26%), Mexico (27%), Argentina (28%), Hungary (32%) and France (35%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Sweden (78%, +7 pts.), South Africa (25%, +6 pts.), Hungary (32%, +6 pts.), Saudi Arabia (78%, +5 pts.), Israel (65%, +5 pts.), Turkey (37%, +2 pts.), Serbia (40%, +2 pts.), Malaysia (47%, +2 pts.) and Australia (69%, +2 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: Peru (55%, -8 pts.), Brazil (10%, -7 pts.), Spain (17%, -7 pts.), Russia (36%, -6 pts.), Argentina (28%, -4 pts.), Belgium (52%, -4 pts.), India (77%, -4 pts.), Mexico (27%, -4 pts.), Poland (55%, -4 pts.), Japan (39%, -3 pts.), and South Korea (26%, -3 pts.).

Global Average of Local Economic Assessment (36%) Up One Point

When asked to assess their local economy, over one third (36%) 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 up one point since last sounding.

China (73%) is the top country in the local assessment category, followed by Sweden (65%), Germany (63%), Saudi Arabia (61%), Israel (60%), India (57%), the United States (55%), Chile (49%), Australia (49%), Canada (46%), Poland  (37%) and Belgium (35%). Serbia (14%) is the lowest ranked country in this category this month, followed by Italy (17%), Spain (17%), Japan (18%), Brazil (19%), Argentina (20%), Hungary (21%), South Africa (22%), Mexico (22%), Russia (23%), South Korea (24%) and France (28%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Russia (23%, +9 pts.), Australia (49%, +6 pts.), South Africa (22%, +5 pts.), Saudi Arabia (61%, +5 pts.), Germany (63%, +5 pts.), Turkey (31%, +5 pts.), Sweden (65%, +3 pts.), Israel (60%, +3pts.), the United States (55%, +2 pts.), Italy (17%, +2 pts.), France (28%, +2 pts.) and Canada (46%, +2 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines in this wave: Argentina (20%, -6 pts.), Peru (30%, -4 pts.), India (57%, -3 pts.), Belgium (35%, -2 pts.), Chile (49%, -1 pts.), Japan (18%, -1 pts.), Malaysia (32%, -1 pts.), Mexico (22%, -1 pts.), Poland (37%, -1 pts.), Serbia (13%, -1 pts.) and Spain (17%, -1 pts.).

Global Average of Future Outlook for Local Economy (30%) Unchanged

The future outlook is unchanged since last sounding, with nearly one third (30%) of global citizens surveyed in 28 countries expecting their local economy to be stronger six months from now.

India (60%) and Chile (60%) are at the top of this assessment category, followed by Brazil (58%), China (57%), Saudi Arabia (55%), Peru (50%), Argentina (42%), the United States (39%), South Africa (38%), Mexico (35%) and Turkey (30%). Great Britain (12%) and Japan (12%) share the lowest future outlook score this month, followed by Italy (13%), Belgium (15%),

France (16%), Hungary (17%), Israel (17%), Serbia (18%), Russia (19%), Spain (19%), Australia (20%) and Malaysia (23%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: South Africa (38%, +6 pts.), Brazil (58%, +5 pts.), the United States (39%, +4 pts.), Mexico (35%, +4 pts.), Turkey (30%, +3 pts.), Russia (19%, +3 pts.), Italy (13%, +3 pts.), Hungary (17%, +3 pts.), Australia (20%, +3 pts.), Spain (19%, +2 pts.), Saudi Arabia (55%, +2 pts.) and Canada (24%, +2 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines in this wave: Poland (24%, -7 pts.), Belgium (15%, -6 pts.), China (57%, -4 pts.), Japan (12%, -4 pts.), Argentina (42%, -2 pts.), India (60%, -2 pts.) and Malaysia (23%, -2 pts.).