Slightly less than half of all Americans (45%) report spending more than they did a year ago, while 18% report spending less. A closer look at these numbers reveals Americans’ increased spending is on household essentials, such as groceries, gasoline, utilities, and healthcare, rather than on discretionary purchases. CONT. John […] Read more »
Consumer View of U.S. Economy Highest Since Early 2008
Consumer sentiment improved last week as Americans were more upbeat about the U.S. economy than at any time in the past six years. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to 37.6 in the week ended July 6, the third-strongest reading since the start of 2008, from 36.4 in the prior […] Read more »
Americans’ Financial Well-Being Is Lowest, Social Highest
Americans are most likely to be considered thriving in their social well-being and suffering in their financial well-being across five elements of well-being measured by the newly updated Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. In general, more Americans are suffering or struggling than are thriving across all five elements. CONT. Alyssa Brown & […] Read more »
Could Upbeat Economic News Help Obama, Democrats?
Last week’s news that the U.S. economy gained 288,000 jobs in June seems to confirm the upbeat economic assessments coming from many of the nation’s economists and Wall Street analysts. The question is whether the data and increased optimism one might hear on CNBC will have an effect on the […] Read more »
U.S. Consumer Comfort Closes Strongest Quarter Since 2007
Consumer comfort fell last week for the first time in more than a month, ending its best quarter since the last U.S. recession began almost seven years ago on a sour note. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index (COMFCOMF) fell to 36.4 in the week ended June 29, after posting gains […] Read more »
U.S. Economic Confidence Index Dips to -16
Gallup’s U.S. Economic Confidence Index lost another point last week, the third week in a row the index has dropped by one point. At -16 for the week ending June 22, the index is the lowest it’s been since April, although it remains in the narrow six-point range it has […] Read more »