CONSUMER sentiment edged down in China last month as the drop in the confidence for the future offsets the improvement in consumer attitudes on current conditions, a private report showed today.
The monthly measure of consumer confidence in China, inched downed to 94.2 in March from 94.7 in February, but remained in the tight range seen since November, said the Market News International, a unit of Deutsche Boerse Group, in the report.
Sentiment on current conditions rose for the third straight month to the highest level since last June, with all components improving. But this was more than offset by a drop in future expectations, led by a sharp decline in the five-year business outlook to the lowest in survey history.
Consumers' willingness to buy durable goods surged to 29-month high, while sentiment on purchasing a car rose for the third month in a row. Consumer attitudes on the real estate market gained for the third consecutive month, led by strong house purchasing sentiment. Sentiment on the stock market fell for the second consecutive month.