If your business depends on consumer sentiment – and let's face it, most of them do – you've probably been on quite a ride over the past couple of years. Words as diverse as 'rocketing', 'plunging', 'plummeting' and 'recovering' have all reasonably described markets and sentiment over a very short period of time.

We do not need to document all the economic highs and lows here (we've all lived them) but suffice to say, insight into people's confidence and spending priorities for the coming months helps your business plan and flourish.

Synovate conducts the twice-annual MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence, covering Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. The latest results are from October-November 2009 and ask consumers to look forward six months. This issue of In:fact covers just a few intriguing aspects. You can see the full reports online here: www.masterintelligence.com

Asia Pacific sentiment soars
Back in the first half of 2009, the people of Asia Pacific were holding their collective breath. Confidence was low pretty much across the board and people did not have high hopes for the coming six months. Fast-forward through those six months and it's a different story... >>MORE

Middle East confidence recovers
Many economies in the Middle East - particularly Qatar and Saudi Arabia - have not suffered through the global financial crisis. Although Dubai's recent problems have hit the headlines, the other states in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are holding up well; and the bailout of Dubai by Abu Dhabi has had a positive impact on consumer confidence in the former state. But what did the MasterCard index tell us...? >>MORE

Africa poised to save and spend
For the first time, the MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence conducted a separate regional report for Africa, covering Morocco, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. >>MORE

About the MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence H2 2009
This issue of In:fact is based on the MasterCard Worldwide Survey of Consumer Purchasing Priorities (MWICPP) for Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, conducted by Synovate. >>MORE