The results of the MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Purchasing Resilience show that Fitness and Wellness, with a Resilience Index score of 78 (out of 100), is the category that is most resilient to spending cutbacks in the next six months. The survey, which covered 6,019 consumers across 14 markets, was conducted from 1-29 September 2008. The Property and Renovations segment is also holding up well, with the second highest Resilience Index score (75). Dining and Entertainment (Resilience Index score: 63), Personal Travel (63) and Fashion and Accessories (59), are the other categories which showed resilience.
In terms of general purchasing resilience, the Resilience Index score for consumers across Asia Pacific is 67, with consumption priorities in China (Resilience Index score: 81) being the region’s most resilient, followed by those in Japan (76), Indonesia and India (74 each).
“In such times, many companies are keen to ascertain the spending patterns of consumers and the Resilience Index has been developed to provide valuable insights on consumers’ purchasing resilience in key discretionary categories,” said Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Economic Advisor for Asia Pacific, MasterCard Worldwide. “Spending on fitness and wellness has become increasingly important, especially for the younger and better educated consumers,” Dr Hedrick-Wong added.

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