, March 7 -- As we find ourselves swept up in 2024 already, the memories of 2023 seem to fade into the distance. Yet it was a year crammed with uncertainties and challenges for many of us, and towards the end there was a sense that the holiday season could not have come any sooner!

So how did consumers the world over feel about 2023? Our December 2023 global Ipsos Essentials Syndicated monthly tracker, covering 15 markets around the globe including South Africa, reveals the key mindsets and sentiments that defined 2023.

People felt conflicted about their personal experience compared to how they saw the world overall. 43% said their own year turned out somewhat or much better than they had anticipated. However, 47% felt their personal 20...