Global consumer confidence rose in the first quarter, with a marked increase in sentiment in the US, Japan and northern Europe, a survey showed yesterday.

Indonesia overtook India as the most optimistic consumer market globally, according to the survey by global information and insights company Nielsen. Japan, where the Central Bank has aggressively boosted economic stimulus, reported its highest consumer confidence score since 2006 although Japanese were still very cautious about the outlook.

Consumers in Europe’s south, where austerity imposed to tackle the region’s debt crisis has helped push unemployment to record levels, remained among the most pessimistic.

Confidence improved in 60 per cent of markets globally, compared to only 33 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year. By region, consumers in North America were most upbeat about their spending intentions for the next 12 months, with 42 per cent of respondents there saying they planned to spend on discretionary items during the year. That was much higher than the North American average of 33 per cent over the past three years and compared with 39 per cent in the Asia Pacific region.

Canadians were in the top 10 most optimistic consumers in the latest poll but Nielsen was cautious about the outlook for consumers in the US.

“Americans are in phase two of the economic recovery, however, for many it just doesn’t feel that way,” said Nielsen’s senior vice president, Global Consumer Insights, James Russo.

The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index rose two points in the first quarter to 93, after dipping 1 point in the previous quarter.

Portugal was the most pessimistic market, followed by Greece, although Greece’s score improved from a quarter before.