Poor sales of smartphones, notebook computers and other consumer electronic gadgets globally deepened growing economic unease, TIER said, citing a monthly survey of local makers. Mineral and food product suppliers are optimistic given a recovery in private consumption in Taiwan, it said. Despite ongoing COVID-19 infections, Taiwanese have returned to normal social activities and travels, TIER Economic Forecasting Center director Gordon Sun (孫明德) said. The recovery was responsible for the sentiment reading for service sectors growing 2.55 points monthly to 96.41, ending three months of downturn, the survey showed. Similarly, the confidence score advanced 3.84 points to 96.7 among civil engineering companies and property developers, given an approaching high season, it said.
