Health concerns more Europeans
Europeans over the last six months, according to a new ACNielsen
survey.
Health is the number one concern for the Irish, Finnish, Russians, Norwegians, Danish, Britons and Belgians, over and above other leading concerns like the economy and job security, found the company.
Its twice-yearly Online Consumer Confidence Survey, which aims to gauge consumers' current confidence levels, spending habits/intentions and current major concerns, polled over 21,100 respondents in 38 markets from Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America and emerging markets during May.
Twenty-eight per cent of Belgians and Irish people said health was their top priority, while 30 per cent of Finns were most concerned about their health.
And across Europe, an average 19 per cent said it was their number one concern with a further 20 per cent citing health as their second biggest concern. This is an increase of 5 per cent over figures gathered in October 2004.
"With ageing populations and a trend for governments all over Europe to cut back on healthcare, the public are becoming very anxious about their health," commented Frank Martell, CEO of the firm's Europe division.
"There is public pressure in nearly every country, even the upbeat economy of Ireland and the renowned, socially responsible governments of the Nordics - to increase and upgrade public healthcare and facilities. Healthcare will become an even bigger and more serious concern for consumers in the future," he added.
However the analysts could not explain the increase in levels of concern over the previous six months.
Across continents, the biggest concern for Asians, Europeans and North Americans is the economy, while the job security topped the most concerned list for Latin Americans and one third of South Africans cited crime as their main concern.
