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<\/p>\nCote d\u2019Ivoire has jumped ahead of Nigeria to the top position of Nielsen\u2019s second Africa Prospects Indicators (APi) report, based on favourable economic growth and stable inflation climate in the country.<\/p>\n
The report aims to give a comparative view of a country’s opportunities across the continent.<\/p>\n
Nigeria topped the list in the first quarter of 2015, while the recent research shows the largest economy in Africa plunged to fourth place.
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This was primarily due to “deteriorating macro-economic indicators as a result of a slump in commodity prices, in particular oil. In addition, the consumer indicators and overall confidence levels have followed suit\u201d, reads the report.<\/p>\n
Despite these findings, and strained pockets, Nigerians are the most optimistic consumers in Africa , expressing optimism for job prospects and personal finances.<\/p>\n
\u201cCote d\u2019Ivoire\u2019s position has improved based on its business outlook dimension, and it continues to rank top in terms of retail sentiment. Despite the fact that it comes in third position on broader macro factors, its favourable economic growth and stable inflation climate and recent elections, provide a fertile investment environment,\u201d said Allen Burch, Managing Director at Nielsen Africa.<\/p>\n
East Africa\u2019s Kenya and Tanzania made notable improvements on the macro ranking, which according to the research considers the economic growth performance in relation to the size of the economy. Business sentiment for Kenya remains a little more skeptical, as the ranking declines amidst slower consumer sales off-take impacting company performance.<\/p>\n
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Africa\u2019s most advanced economy, South Africa, peer ranking improved by two positions, it also accounts for the most consumer spend in the Sub-Saharan region \u201cand has one of the most favorably priced common item baskets\u201d according to the research as well as the highest concentration of modern trade on the continent.<\/p>\n
According to the World Bank, growth deceleration for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as a result of difficult global conditions and domestic challenges has the region slowing from 4.6 per cent in 2014 to 3.3 per cent in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith SSA being a net exporter of primary commodities, and oil being the most important commodity traded in the region, the countries hardest hit by the slump in commodity prices are understandably SSA\u2019s oil exporters, led by top-producers, Nigeria and Angola,\u201d said Burch.<\/p>\n