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would invest in new technology and products, while 36 percent reported they would spend
spare cash on new clothes.
Fifty-five percent of Indian respondents said they consider it a good time to buy things they
want and need in Q4. Optimism levels have increased six percentage points from last quarter,
when 49 percent (in Q3) claimed it was a favorable time to buy, and is one percentage point
lower than the same period last year (54% in Q4 2011).
Slightly more than four in five online consumers (81%) indicated they have changed their
spending habits to save on household expenses. The top three actions that these consumers
have taken are to save on gas and electricity (53%), spend less on new clothes (49%), and
cut down on telephone expenses (38%).
“The fourth quarter highlights the willingness of people to spend during the holidays and
festival season. This is highlighted by the sharp difference between the third and fourth
quarter in terms of buying activity.The optimism, though, is tempered with a judicious
controlling of household and discretionary expenses in order to balance the household
budget,” said Mathur
Perceptions of Job Prospects, Personal Finances
In Q4, 76 percent of online respondents in India are optimistic about their job prospects in the
next 12 months, a point below the 77 percent in Q3 2012, and two points below the same
period last year (78% Q4 2011). Optimism on personal finances in Q4 is the same at 76
percent as in Q3.
Globally 76 percent of online consumers in India and Philippines are the most optimistic about
job prospects in the next 12 months, followed by online consumers in Thailand (70%) and
China (70%).
Job Security and Economy Remain Key Concerns
Nielsen’s survey shows that job security and state of the economy continue to be the top
concerns for Indian respondents. For one in five respondents (20%), job security is the
biggest concern in Q4, down two points from Q3 (22%). The state of the economy is the
biggest concern for 11 percent of respondents, down by three points from Q3 (14%). Well-
being of parents (9%) and fair work-life balance (9%) are the other two biggest concern
areas.