Ipsos Consumer Confidence Index Q2 2026

A few key highlights from the study are outlined below:

• ~ 2 in 10 Pakistanis believe the country is on the right track, with optimism higher among men, upper-lower-middle class, rural residents, and in KPK
• Confidence in the country’s direction falls to 22%, following a 40% peak earlier this year amid US–Iran tensions, indicating a rapid reversal of recent gains and returning to levels broadly comparable to the COVID-19 period
• Economic anxieties resurge sharply across inflation, unemployment, and cost pressures, all key concerns have increased compared to last quarter
• ~1 in 5 Pakistanis believes the economy is strong, with optimism relatively higher among men, youth, residents of KPK, Sindh, and Baluchistan, and lower-middle income groups
• The perception of economic strength moderates by 3pp from recent highs and suggests sustained improvement with room for further gains
• ~7% Pakistanis feel comfortable with household purchases, with comfort higher among youth, upper-middle class, urban & Sindh residents
• Comfort in making household purchases declines to 7%, down 5pp, returning to COVID-era levels after a period of stabilization amid global economic pressures
• Only 2 in 10 Pakistanis expect the economy to strengthen with optimism concentrated in KPK & Baluchistan, affluents, rural areas, and older cohorts
• Expectations from Economy declines to 22%, down 9pp after a period of stabilization, as rising economic pressures drive a gradual return of pessimism
• Personal financial optimism falls to 31%, down 9pp, amid weaker sentiment and continued sensitivity to geopolitical shocks such as US–Iran tensions
• Personal Financial Situation declines to 31% with relatively higher expectations among youth, men, rural residents, Punjab & Baluchistan, and upper-income groups
• Confidence to invest remains low at 14%, after a period of stabilization, with higher optimism among upper-middle-class, Baluchistan, KPK, and men
• Comfort in making major purchases remains low at 5%, stabilizing after earlier gains during & post Pak-India Conflict
• Only 1 in 5 Pakistanis feel secure in their jobs, with sharp disparities across demographics and relatively higher confidence among men, youth, mid-career cohorts, and rural residents
• Confidence in job security which had nearly doubled over the past two years, declines to 17% in Q2 2026, amid recent US–Iran tensions