ROC consumer confidence hits new heights in April

Taiwan’s Consumer Confidence Index hit an all-time high of 92.93 in April, up 1.8 points from the month before and notching up improvements across all economic fundamentals.

The overall benchmark’s six subindexes posted gains, reflecting bullish consumer sentiment for the first half of the year, according to the latest survey released April 27 by Taoyuan City-based National Central University’s Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development.

“Stock investment is the biggest contributor to the positive result, up 4.9 points to 109.7,” RCTED Director Dachrahn Wu said. “With Taiwan’s economy on a steady growth track, buoyant investor confidence is expected to help push the local bourse to higher levels.”

Consumer prices came in second with a gain of 1.75 points to 52.85, followed by household finance, which grew 1.65 points to 85.6, the best result since April 2012.

Durable goods purchases remained above the 100 mark for the 19th month at 106.5, up 1 point from March. Economic outlook inched up 0.8 of a point to 88.45, while employment opportunities picked up 0.65 of a point to a record 114.9, topping the 100 mark for the 49th consecutive month.

Conducted by phone April 19-23, the national survey involved 2,448 randomly selected adults over the age of 20. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 percent. (YHC-JSM)