Consumer sentiment buoyant: Mastercard

Indian consumers' confidence level has remained fairly buoyant in the second half of 2005 and was significantly higher than the second half of last year, according to a survey conducted by Mastercard International.

"The current India Masterindex score of 73.1 is consistent with the score of 72 in the first half of this year, but was much higher than the score of 58 in the last year period," an official release from Mastercard International said.

"Indian consumers' expectations are consistent with a rapidly growing economy, favourable macroeconomic fundamentals, higher imports of consumer goods and the improving performance of India's consumer goods sector," Tom Jochnk, senior economist of Economist Intelligence Unit, said.