Pakistan's economic outlook has witnessed a notable improvement, as highlighted by a series of recent statistics reflecting increased optimism and confidence among the populace.
According to the latest data, the proportion of Pakistanis who believe the country is heading in the right direction has risen from 12% to 18%, marking the highest level of optimism in the past two years.
Inflation, long considered a major concern, appears to be less of a worry for many. Only three out of ten Pakistanis now cite inflation as their primary concern, the lowest reading in the last three years. This shift in sentiment is a significant indicator of the changing economic perceptions among the public.
The perception of the country's economic strength has also seen a remarkable improvement. The percentage of Pakistanis who describe the current state of the economy as 'strong' has quadrupled since the first quarter of this year, jumping from 4% to 16%. This surge in positive sentiment is the highest in the last five years, barring an unusual spike in September 2021.
Furthermore, consumer confidence in making both daily household and major purchases has increased significantly. The proportion of Pakistanis comfortable with daily household purchases has surged 2.5 times, from 4% to 10% since the first quarter of this year. Even more striking is the nearly fourfold increase in those who feel comfortable making major purchases.
Confidence in the ability to save for the future has also shown steady growth. The percentage of Pakistanis expressing confidence in their ability to save has increased from 11% to 15%. This upward trend has been consistent since September 2023, indicating signs of stable and sustainable economic improvement.
Job security, a critical component of overall economic confidence, has seen a slight uptick. Confidence in job security has risen to 15% from 12% in the last quarter, further contributing to the positive sentiment.
Overall, Pakistan has shown positive changes in three out of four sub-indices of the consumer confidence index, resulting in an overall increase of 0.8 points. The current consumer confidence index stands at 32.3, the best outlook in the last three years.
These findings reflect a cautiously optimistic outlook for Pakistan's economy, with improving perceptions across various facets of economic life. While challenges remain, the data suggests a growing confidence among Pakistanis in their economic future.
