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12/07/2010 -
Payment services providers may see an increase in business as consumer confidence about the country's finances - and their own - increases.A new survey from the consulting firm Deloitte has found that of the 1,050 consumers surveyed, nearly two-thirds said their financial situation was the same or better than it was a year ago, Convenience Store News reports. Additionally, almost two-thirds of respondents also said that they are planning to spend the same or more at retailers this year.
However, consumers are still proceeding with caution because of rising energy prices, higher taxes and a slowly recovering job market. "While shoppers are willing to spend a bit, they are still sensitive to broad economic events and prices," Scott Erickson, partner at Deloitte's retail practice, told Convenience Store News.
More than 50 percent of respondents also believe that the economy is emerging from the recession as opposed to less than 25 percent of respondents in a similar survey last October.
Young consumers seem to be the most optimistic, a Harris Interactive poll found. Twenty-eight percent expect improvement in the next few months while only 19 percent expect to see the economy worsen.
