A nationally representative sample of 359 Georgians, interviewed in early June 2019, reveals that the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) improved by nearly 1 index point, from -16.5 in May to -15.9 in June. A similar pattern was observed in the Present Situation Index, which increased by 1.8 index points (from -19.5 to -17.7). The Expectations Index however remained unchanged at -13.6. Therefore, the overall change in consumer confidence in June correlates directly to the Present Situation Index.

Table 1, displayed below, reveals the areas modifying improvement in Georgian consumer confidence (in the Present Situation Index) in June: current sentiments towards savings; attitudes to making major purchases; improvements in personal financial situations; and improvements in the country’s general economic situation, over the last 12 months.

Table 1: June 2019, Changes in Consumer Confidence (Index Points), by Questions (for the present)

Table 2 shows that almost every group experienced positive changes in their present situation, aside from the “Rest of Georgia” and the “Young”. The Present Situation Index went down by nearly 1 and 0.6 index points, respectively for those living outside Tbilisi in the rest of Georgia (from -25.1 in May to -26.3 in June), and for young Georgians (from -11.6 in May to -12.2 in June). Two issues in particular affected these results: attitudes towards savings and major purchases at present (for the rest of Georgia), as well as the current ability to save, and attitudes towards making major purchases (in the young).

Table 2: June 2019, Changes in the Present Situation Index (Index Points), by Groups

Table 3 illustrates changes in June concerning the present situation. Each of the groups exhibited positive patterns within questions concerning their personal financial situation. The data also shows that almost all groups are optimistic considering: “Is now the right time for people to save in Georgia?” (excluding the young and the rest of Georgia), “How did the general economic situation change in Georgia, over the past 12 months?” (aside from the highly educated, young Georgian consumers, and those living outside of the capital) and “How much did consumer prices rise, over the past 12 months?” (bar highly educated Georgians).

Table 3: June 2019, Changes in Consumer Confidence (Index Points), by Questions (for the present) and by Groups

The final table below summarizes those categories where consumers were positively affected.

Table 4: June 2019, Categories of Consumer whose Sentiment Improved, by Question

MONTHLY AND YEARLY CHANGES IN THE CCI VARIABLES

BAR CHARTS: CONSUMER RESPONSES BY QUESTIONS