Filipino consumer confidence went down with the rest of the world in the latest index by Nielsen Co. The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence 1st Half, 2009 report showed the Philippine consumer index hitting 11, or nine notches below the 20 index recorded for the country in the second half of last year. The global average for the period is at 77.

Started in 2005 and done twice per year, the Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index covered 50 markets. The report uploaded in the company’s blog said it surveyed 26,000 consumers between March 19 and April 2, 2009.

The report said the results of the survey reflect the impact of an economic slowdown. “[The] effect of global recession is evident as 48 of 49 countries witnessed a fall in 1H 2009 CCI vs. 2H 2008 CCI.”

The Philippines posted a CCI of -6 percent for the period covered by the survey. Taiwan was the only country where consumers remained positive (5 percent). The data, however, excluded Saudi Arabia, which the report said was a new entrant in the survey. “Hence, no back data was available to make a comparison.”

Overall, the Nielsen CCI of 48 countries is below 100 for the first half of 2009.

“Global Consumer Confidence continues to slide, dropping a record seven points, although the US appears to have leveled out.”

The report noted that three of the BRIC countries—Russia, Brazil and India—all experienced double- digit drops in consumer confidence.

Brazil dropped 15 percent, Russia 21 percent and India 29 percent. The fourth, China, posted -7 percent.

The report added that “globally and in most markets, the number of consumers who feel their country is in recession has increased versus six months ago.”

But the Philippines is nearer the global average (22) on the level of optimism. Twenty-five percent of consumers surveyed online said they think the Philippines will be out of an economic recession in the next 12 months.

Still, 29 percent of consumers globally said they don’t know if the light at the end of the tunnel may be seen by next year.

The report said the concern for job security has doubled to a 22 index from just 11 in the last survey. It added that job prospects and the state of personal finances over the next 12 months remain key concerns for most markets.