After Donald J. Trump won the presidential election, Americans’ optimism about the economic future soared. But midway through the year, that optimism has not translated into concrete economic gains. This seeming contradiction exposes a reality about the role of psychology in economics — or more specifically, how psychology is connected […] Read more »
Consumer sentiment slips in June but still remains high
Consumer confidence in June slipped to its lowest level since President Trump was elected, although the overall level still remains quite favorable, according to the University of Michigan (U-M) Surveys of Consumers. CONT. U. of Michigan Read more »
Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Increased in June
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had decreased in May, increased moderately in June. The Index now stands at 118.9 (1985=100), up from 117.6 in May. CONT. Conference Board Read more »
Cost of Healthcare Is Americans’ Top Financial Concern
As the U.S. Senate begins considering legislation that could significantly change the nation’s healthcare system, the cost of healthcare leads the list of what Americans consider the most important financial problem facing their family. CONT. Andrew Dugan, Gallup Read more »
Trump’s victory changed the way Americans see reality
Democrats and Republicans have never been further apart in their expectations for the economy than they are right now. The Trump presidency appears to have sparked an unprecedented political polarization in consumer confidence, which is often viewed as a leading indicator for the economy’s performance. CONT. Ana Swanson, Washington Post Read more »
Middle-Class Identification in US at Pre-Recession Levels
The breakdown of social class identification in the U.S. has returned to pre-recession levels, with 2% saying they belong to the upper class, 62% to the upper-middle or middle classes, and 36% to the working or lower classes. CONT. Frank Newport, Gallup Read more »