The major factor dampening consumers' spirits has been the rising unemployment rate and the discouraging job outlook, |
The major factor dampening consumers' spirits has been the rising unemployment rate and the discouraging job outlook. |
The most significant contributor to the rebound in confidence has been the overall improvement in current conditions over the past 12 months. And consumers' outlook suggests that the economy will continue to expand in the first half of the new year. |
The nine-point drop in consumer confidence over the last two months underscores an anxiety about future economic conditions, |
The nine-point drop in consumer confidence over the last two months underscores an anxiety about future economic conditions. |
The outlook for the holiday retail season is now fairly bleak. |
The Present Situation Index continues to hold steady at a four-and-a-half year high (August 2001, 144.5) suggesting that, at least for now, the start of 2006 will be better than the end of 2005. However, consumers are growing increasingly concerned about the short-term health of the economy and, in turn, about job prospects. The Expectations Index is now at its lowest level in three years (March 2003, 61.4), excluding the two months following Hurricane Katrina. If expectations continue to lose ground, the outlook for the remainder of 2006 could deteriorate. |
The rebound in expectations suggests consumers do not expect economic conditions to become worse. This comeback, combined with ... upbeat forecasts for Christmas spending, signals a brighter holiday spending season than was anticipated only a month ago. |
The recent weakness in the stock market has done little to dampen either consumers' assessment of present economic conditions or future expectations. |
The resiliency of the economy, recent declines in prices at the gas pump and job growth have consumers feeling more confident at year-end than they felt at the start of 2005. |
The resiliency of the economy, recent declines in prices at the pump and job growth have consumers feeling more confident at year-end than they felt at the start of 2005. |
The resiliency of the economy, recent declines in prices at the pump, and job growth have consumers feeling more confident at year-end than they felt at the start of 2005. |
The resiliency of the economy, recent declines in prices at the pump, and job growth have consumers feeling more confident at year-end than they felt at the start of 2005. Consumers are confident that the economy will continue to expand in 2006. |
The resiliency of the economy, recent declines in prices at the pump, and job growth have consumers feeling more confident at year-end than they felt at the start of 2005. Even though all of the improvement over the past twelve months has been in consumers' assessment of current conditions, and expectations remain below earlier levels, consumers are confident that the economy will continue to expand in 2006. |
The rising level of unemployment and sentiment that a turnaround in labor market conditions is not around the corner have contributed to deflating consumers' spirits this month. Expectations are likely to remain weak until the job market becomes more favorable. |