New Zealanders are three times more optimistic than they were a year ago, and those under 30 are leading the charge.
The latest MasterCard Worldwide index of Consumer Confidence survey shows consumers are feeling more positive then they were last year (65.9 vs. 21.5 a year ago), but are slightly less confident then they were six months ago.
The survey found younger New Zealanders were the most optimistic - 77.2 vs. 61.8 for those over 30.
MasterCard Worldwide New Zealand country manager Stuart McKinlay said the improvements signalled the worst effects of the global financial crisis were over.
"These improvements come off the back of positive unemployment statistics which - for the first time in two years fell in the March quarter."
"The consumer confidence numbers also go some way to explaining the growth in transactions and spend we are seeing reported by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Statistics NZ over the past months.
"Both the number of electronic transactions and their value are now beginning to grow after a sustained period of consolidation. It's likely this is being fed by this strong year-on-year increase in consumer sentiment."
Treasury said yesterday households remained cautious in April, limiting their spending and reducing borrowing, despite the ongoing recovery of the economy.
Under 30s the most optimistic NZers
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