The Economic Pulse of the World - March 2015

Global Average of National Economic Assessment Down One Point: 39%

Continuing a downward trend, the average global economic assessment of national economies surveyed in 24 countries is down one point as 39% of global citizens rate their national economies to be ‘good’.

Saudi Arabia (92%) once again tops of the national economic assessment, followed by India (80%), Germany (79%), China (75%), Sweden (69%) and Canada (61%). France and Italy (both - 9%) tie for the lowest average global economic assessment this month. Other countries at the bottom of the average are: Brazil (11%), Hungary (13%), South Korea (13%) and Spain (13%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Japan (31%, +5 pts.), China (75%, +4 pts.), Great Britain (48%, +4 pts.), Russia (32%, +4 pts.), Germany (79%, +3 pts.), Canada (61%, +2 pts.), Belgium (41%, +2 pts.) and Poland (29%, +2 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: South Africa (18%, -9 pts.), Mexico (16%, -6 pts.), Australia (51%, -5 pts.), Sweden (69%, -4 pts.), Turkey (39%, -4 pts), Hungary (13%, -3 pts.), Saudi Arabia (92%, -2 pts.) Israel (34%, -2 pts), Brazil (11%, -1 pts) and France (9%, -1 pts.).

Global Average of Local Economic Assessment (31%) Up One Point

When asked to assess their local economies, 31% agree the state of the current economy in their local area is ‘good,’ on the global aggregate level. The local economic assessment up one point since last sounding.

Saudi Arabia (73%) leads in the local economic assessment average, followed by India (58%), China (56%), Germany (55%), Sweden (53%), Israel (49%) and the United States (40%). Small minority assess their local economy as ‘good’ in South Korea (10%) followed by France (11%), Italy (12%), Hungary (13%), Spain (13%), Mexico (14%) and South Africa (16%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Turkey (38%, +9 pts.), India (58%, +8 pts.), Russia (30%, +8 pts.), Great Britain (38%, +6 pts.), Saudi Arabia (73%, +5 pts.), Poland (22%, +5 pts.), China (56%, +3 pts.) and Argentina (22%, +3 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: Sweden (53%, -6 pts.), France (11%, -4 pts.), Canada (37%, -3 pts.), South Korea (10%, -3 pts.), Israel (49%, -2 pts.), Brazil (20%, -2 pts.), South Africa (16%, -2 pts.) and Mexico (14%, -1 pts.).

Global Average of Future Outlook for Local Economy (24%) Unchanged

The future outlook average remains unchanged, as one quarter (24%) of global citizens expect their local economy will be stronger six months from now.

India (67%) continues to lead the future outlook assessment, followed by Saudi Arabia (66%), Brazil (52%), China (49%), Argentina (32%) and the United States (29%). Once again, only a fistful in France (5%) expect their local economy to be strong six months from now, followed by South Korea (9%), Belgium (10%), Hungary (10%), Italy (11%), Sweden (11%), South Africa (12%) and Australia (13%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Russia (26%, +8 pts.), Israel (15%, +7 pts.), Saudi Arabia (66%, +6 pts.), China (49%, +5 pts.), Great Britain (21%, +4 pts.), India (67%, +3 pts.) and Poland (15%, +3 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: Mexico (25%, -13 pts.), Germany (16%, -5 pts.), Australia (13%, -4 pts.), South Africa (12%, -4 pts.), South Korea (9%, -2 pts.), Canada (16%, -1 pts.), Italy (11%, -1 pts.) and Hungary (10%, -1 pts.).