Abu Dhabi Optimism Rises

Consumer confidence in Abu Dhabi increased in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period during last year, according to the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADED).

The level of consumer optimism reached 126 points, up from 120 points last year on the Consumer Confidence Index Q1 2012 report released by ADED.

The main indicators on the index included the condition of national families, business cycles, confidence in business climate and the performance of the industrial sector, reported official news agency WAM.

“The index showed improvement in the indicators of the current situation and future state of the emirate’s economy during the first quarter compared with the first quarter of 2011,” said the report.

The UAE as a whole ranked quite high in the global consumer confidence findings for the first quarter of the year released by information provider Nielsen.

The country ranked ninth on the index, with a score of 105 points, unchanged from the previous quarter.