Income expectations lead the recovery

All four key components of the index have improved, with household income expectations showing the most noticeable progress. As the end of the year approaches, the prospect of bonuses and seasonal income often contributes to a more positive outlook among consumers.

Still, purchasing intentions and perceptions of the overall economic situation remain subdued. The slight improvement in confidence appears to stem less from renewed optimism than from a decline in strong pessimism regarding employment prospects and household finances.

A cautious attitude persists

The purchasing outlook, which dropped significantly in 2020, remains the weakest element of the index. This enduring hesitation highlights how inflation and rising living costs continue to weigh on consumer morale.

Over the past few years, cautiousness has become a defining feature of consumer behaviour. Inflationary pressures, combined with uncertainty about both local and global economic trends, have led households to adopt a more conservative approach to spending.

Hopeful about the future, realistic about the present

While Mauritians remain critical of the current economic climate, expectations for the months ahead are notably more positive. This cautious optimism suggests that many still hope for an improvement in living conditions, even if recovery feels distant.

The perception of the economy remains highly sensitive to shifts in the political, social and international environment. Encouragingly, confidence in both current and future employment conditions is also improving, reflecting a sense of short-term stability.

A national outlook still tinged with doubt

The “national trajectory” indicator, which captures how citizens view the country’s direction, follows a similar trend — a modest recovery, yet with persistent uncertainty.

The share of respondents who believe Mauritius is not heading in the right direction remains high, echoing a broader sense of frustration and difficulty in projecting confidently into the future. Historically, each general election has brought a temporary wave of optimism, but these peaks are becoming shorter and less pronounced over time.

Outlook

The slight recovery in consumer confidence marks a stabilisation after a challenging start to the year. However, the improvement seems driven more by a reduction in pessimism than by genuine optimism.

Caution remains the prevailing sentiment. Purchasing confidence is still weak, and uncertainty continues to influence how Mauritians view their economic prospects. The next quarter will reveal whether this rebound signals a more durable shift or simply a pause in a period still marked by inflationary pressure and expectations for change.