Consumer confidence jumps 14.7 per cent in October as inflation fears ease

WEB DESK: Consumer confidence in Pakistan showed a strong improvement last month, surging by 14.7 per cent to 35.52 points, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. This increase highlights a growing optimism among people about the country’s economic future.

It’s not just the overall confidence that’s improving. The Current Economic Conditions (CEC) index shot up by 18.7 per cent to 34.48 points, while expectations for the economy’s future, tracked by the Expected Economic Conditions (EEC) index, saw an 11.1 per cent jump to 36.56 points.

These numbers reflect a shift in how people are feeling about both the present and what lies ahead.

There’s more good news on inflation. Expectations around rising prices eased by 6.7 per cent, bringing the inflation expectation score down to 68.47 points. Worries about unemployment in the coming months also decreased, dropping by 6.1 per cent to 70.81 points.

And for those keeping an eye on interest rates, expectations improved, with a 13.7 per cent decline to 58.28 points.

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) gives us insight into how people are feeling about their finances and the economy overall. It’s measured on a scale of 0 to 100—scores above 50 reflect optimism, while numbers below 50 indicate a more cautious or uncertain outlook.

The CCI takes into account both recent trends, looking back at the past six months, and what people expect to happen over the next six months.

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