CONSUMERS remain optimistic about the economy in the first quarter this year although a slight decline was recorded in the overall confidence index to 8.7 percent from 9.2 percent a quarter ago, results of the latest Consumer Expectation Survey of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.
Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a briefing Friday despite the modest decline in the index, consumer confidence remained positive, registering the second highest reading since the start of the nationwide survey in the first quarter of 2007.
“This only shows that the number of optimists continue to outnumber the number of pessimists,” Guinigundo said.
He said the slight decline in the index was due mainly to higher prices of foods and household spending, poor harvest, and unfavorable weather conditions nationwide.