The Economic Pulse of the World - January 2017
Despite the optimistic ending to 2016, 2017 has not started on a positive note, with all three economic indicators stumbling right out of the gate. The future will show if this a momentary glitch, or a sign of things to come.
The national economic assessment average (40%) is down two points since last sounding. Driving the index down is a decline among all major players in all regions of the world. In North America (52%, -6 pts.), both Canada (52%, -9 pts.) and the United States (52%, -3 pts.) are down since last sounding. In Latin America (28%, - 4pts.) all countries have experienced a decline. APAC (47%, -3 pts.) is down as well, driven primarily by losses in Japan (29%, -9 pts.), South Korea (7%, -9 pts.) and China (74%, -5 pts.). Middle East/Africa (45%, + 1pt.) is the only region in the positive territory in the first month of the new year.
The local economic assessment average (32%) is down two points since last month. Similar to the national assessment, the majority of countries have experienced a decline since last sounding. There are only five countries that has have experienced an improvement since last wave: Sweden (56%, +5 pts.), Poland (26%, +4 pts.), Israel (56%, + 3pts.), Saudi Arabia (58%, + 2pts.) and Turkey (30%, +1 pt.).
The future local assessment (26%) is down two points since last sounding as well. The six-month outlook on the local economy is in the negative territory for North America (28%, -5 pts.), Latin America (44%, -3 pts.), APAC (29%, -3 pts.) and Middle East/Africa (27%, -1 pt.). Europe (15%, N/C) is the only region of the world without change since the last month of 2016.
Global Average of National Economic Assessment Up Two Points: 40%
The average global economic assessment of national economies surveyed in 25 countries is down two points with 40% of global citizens rating their national economies as ‘good’.
Saudi Arabia (80%) is back on top in the national economic assessment category, followed by India (78%), Germany (77%), China (74%), Sweden (69%), Peru (67%), Australia (60%), Canada (52%) and the United States (52%). Losing seven points since sounding, South Korea (7%) holds the lowest spot in this assessment, followed by Brazil (9%), Mexico (14%), Italy (15%), South Africa (16%), France (16%), Spain (17%), Argentina (20%) and Hungary (25%).
Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Great Britain (43%, +5 pts.), Russia (33%, +4 pts.), Sweden (69%, +3 pts.), South Africa (16%, +1 pts.), Saudi Arabia (80%, +1 pts.), Hungary (25%, +1 pts.), Germany (77%, +1 pts.) and Belgium (37%, +1 pt.).
Countries with the greatest declines: Canada (52%, -9 pts.), Japan (29%, -9 pts.), South Korea (7%, -8 pts.), Mexico (14%, -7 pts.), China (74%, -5 pts.), France (16%, -5 pts.), Peru (67%, -5 pts.), Brazil (9%, -4 pts.), Argentina (20%, -3 pts.), Italy (15%, -3 pts.), Poland (36%, - pts.) and the United States (52%, -3 pts.).
Global Average of Local Economic Assessment (31%) Down Two Points
When asked to assess their local economy, nearly one third (31%) of those surveyed in 25 countries agree that the state of the current economy in their local area is ‘good’. The local economic assessment is down two points since last sounding.
India (60%) has the lead in the local assessment category, followed by China (58%), Saudi Arabia (58%), Israel (56%), Sweden (56%), Germany (54%), the United States (43%), Peru (39%), Australia (38%) and Canada (36%). South Korea (6%) is the lowest ranked country this month, followed by Mexico (10%), South Africa (12%), Japan (13%), Brazil (14%), Spain (15%), Italy (15%), France (16%), Argentina (17%), Hungary (18%) and Belgium (20%).
Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Sweden (56%, +5 pts.), Poland (26%, +4 pts.), Israel (56%, +3 pts.), Saudi Arabia (58%, +2 pts.) and Turkey (30%, +1 pts.).
Countries with the greatest declines in this wave: South Korea (6%, -9 pts.), Mexico (10%, -7 pts.), Canada (36%, -6 pts.), Germany (54%, -5 pts.), Argentina (17%, -4 pts.), China (58%, -4 pts.), Japan (13%, -4 pts.), Spain (15%, -4 pts.), Belgium (20%, -3 pts.), Brazil (14%, -3 pts.), Peru (39%, -3 pts.) and the United States (43%, -3 pts.).
Global Average of Future Outlook for Local Economy (26%) Down Two Points
The future outlook is down two points since last month, with one quarter (26%) of global citizens surveyed in 25 countries expecting their local economy to be stronger six months from now.
India (65%) once again leads in this assessment category, followed by Brazil (59%), Saudi Arabia (55%), China (53%), Peru (52%), Argentina (45%), the United States (38%), Turkey (31%), Russia (22%), Spain (20%), Mexico (20%) and Sweden (20%). France and South Korea (both 8%) share the lowest future outlook score this month, followed by Israel (9%), Japan (9%), Italy (10%), Belgium (12%), Great Britain (13%), South Africa (13%), Hungary (15%) and Australia (17%).
Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Poland (18%, +5 pts.), Brazil (59%, +5 pts.), Belgium (12%, +3 pts.), Sweden (20%, +2 pts.), Hungary (15%, +2 pts.), Australia (17%, +2 pt.), Russia (22%, +1 pts.) and Great Britain (13%, +1 pt.).
Countries with the greatest declines in this wave: Canada (18%, -9 pts.), South Korea (8%, -9 pts.), Argentina (45%, -7 pts.), Germany (19%, -7 pts.), Peru (52%, -6 pts.), Spain (20%, -6 pts.), Japan (9%, -5 pts.), Mexico (20%, -5 pts.), China (53%, -3 pts.), France (8%, -3 pts.) and South Africa (13%, -3 pts.).
