FIVE MONTHS:Economics professor Dachrahn Wu said pessimistic sentiment could reduce private consumption if the nation’s major economic barometers do not stabilize

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 30, 2015
By: Crystal Hsu  /  Staff reporter

Consumer confidence dropped slightly this month, weakening for the fifth straight month, as people feel less optimistic about the job market’s prospects amid an economic slowdown, a monthly survey by National Central University showed yesterday.

The consumer confidence index dropped to 85.32, down 0.83 points from last month’s 86.15, as all component indicators softened with the exception of the inflationary gauge, the survey showed.

“The results indicate a mild, but prevalent pessimistic sentiment that could dampen private consumption if major economic barometers fail to stabilize,” said Dachrahn Wu (吳大任), a professor of economics and director of the university’s Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development, which helped conduct the survey.     [FULL  STORY]