The Economic Pulse of the World - May 2015

North America (55%) is continuing on the upward trend, largely due to Canadian economy gaining ground in all three assessment categories, most notably - national (63%, +6pts.).

BRIC (53%) improves since last sounding with one of the major players – Russia (43%, +10 pts.) showing the largest single month improvement in the national assessment since April 2014.

APAC (50%) and G-8 countries (41%) both inch up one point as the positive trend started in February 2015 continues.

Stagnation is the word that can be used to describe the European national assessment as for the fourth month in a row it remains unchanged.

After positive gains last wave, LATAM (19%) is on the downward trend again, losing ground in all 3 assessment categories. National assessment loss is driven by Mexico (16%, -14 pts.).

Global Average of National Economic Assessment Down One Point: 40%

Erasing last month’s positive gain, the average global economic assessment of national economies surveyed in 24 countries is down one point as 40% of global citizens rate their national economies to be ‘good’.

Saudi Arabia (90%) dominates the national economic assessment , followed by India (78%), China (76%), Germany (76%), Sweden (65%), and Canada (63 %). At the opposite end of the assessment is Italy (9%), followed by France (11%), Brazil (14%), Hungary (15%), Mexico (16%), Spain (16%) and South Korea (16%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Russia (43%, +10 pts.), Canada (63%, +6 pts.), Spain (16%, +4 pts.), Belgium (38%, +3 pts.), Brazil (14%, +3 pts.), Germany (76%, +2 pts.), Australia (56%, +2 pts.), Turkey (38%, +2 pts.), South Korea (16%, +2 pts.) and Israel (47%, +1 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: Mexico (16%, -14 pts.), South Africa (17%, -8 pts.), India (78%, -4 pts.), Hungary (15%, -4 pts.), Saudi Arabia (90%, -3 pts) and China (76%, -3 pts.). 

Global Average of Local Economic Assessment (31%) Unchanged

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 unchanged since last sounding.

Despite losing ground, Saudi Arabia (67%) remains at the top of the local economic assessment, followed by China (60%), Israel (56%), Germany (53%), India (51%), Sweden (51%) and Great Britain (41%). One in 10 (8%) assess their local economy as ‘good’ in Italy, followed by Spain (12%), France (14%), Hungary (14%), Mexico (15%) and South Korea (15%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Israel (56%, +5 pts.), Canada (40%, +5 pts.), South Korea (15%, +4 pts.), Great Britain (41%, +3 pts.), Poland (22%, +2 pts.), France (14%, +2 pts.) and Belgium (21%, +1 pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: Saudi Arabia (67%, -5 pts.), China (60%, -3 pts.), Italy (8%, -3 pts.), India (51%, -2 pts.) and Australia (32%, -2 pts.).

Global Average of Future Outlook for Local Economy (25%) Unchanged

The future outlook remains unchanged, as one quarter (25%) of global citizens expect their local economy will be stronger six months from now.

Completing the hat-trick, Saudi Arabia (63%) leads this assessment category as well, followed by India (61%), China (52%), Brazil (51%), Argentina (34%), Mexico (28%) and the United States (28%). Fistful in France (5%) expect their local economy to be strong six months from now, followed by Hungary (8%), Italy (11%), Australia (12%), Belgium (12%), Israel (13%), South Korea (13%), South Africa (13%) and Sweden (13%).

Countries with the greatest improvements in this wave: Saudi Arabia (63%, +5 pts.), India (61%, +2 pts.), China (52%, +2 pts.), Canada (19%, +2 pts.), Argentina (34%, +1 pts.), the United States (28%, +1 pts.), Great Britain (22%, +1 pts.), South Korea (13%, +1 pts.) and Belgium (12%, +1pts.).

Countries with the greatest declines: Australia (12%, -6 pts.), Israel (13%, -5 pts.), Poland (16%, -4 pts.) Japan (14%, -3 pts.), Sweden (13%, -3 pts.) and Hungary (8%, -3 pts.).