AVERAGE ASIA/PACIFIC MARKET CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DECLINES

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Bernama) -- The average consumer confidence score of
markets in the Asia/Pacific has dipped to 38.7 from 47.4 six months ago and
56.0 a year ago, according to the latest MasterCard Worldwide Index of
Consumer Confidence.

The decline in optimism was due to the continuing global credit crisis,
volatility in financial markets and slower economic growth, the MasterCard
Worldwide said in a statement here Monday.

The MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence is the region's most
comprehensive and longest running consumer confidence survey.

Released twice a year, the index is based on a survey which measures
consumer confidence on prevailing expectations in the market for the next six
months.

The latest survey was conducted from March 23 to April 18 this year and
involved 9,211 consumers from 21 markets.

The five areas in which consumers indicated their confidence levels were
employment, economy, regular income, stock market and quality of life.-- BERNAMA