As economic indicators and holiday shopping numbers trickle out at the year’s end, it’s good to remember that the economy is about more than data points like GDP and unemployment. There’s also personal circumstances and psychology: what people think about their economic situations and prospects. And, like most everything else, […] Read more »
Consumer Confidence Rises to Highest Level in Two Months
Confidence among U.S. consumers rose last week to its highest since early October, propelled by gains among almost every income group. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index increased to minus 31.3 in the period ended Dec. 1, its highest since Oct. 6, from minus 33.7, almost erasing declines caused by the […] Read more »
Economic Confidence Rises in November
Americans were much more upbeat about the U.S. economy in November than they were in October, but are still less confident than they were in the months before the federal government shutdown. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index averaged -25 in November, improving from -35 in October but still below the -19 […] Read more »
Consumer Confidence in U.S. Increases to Almost Two-Month High
Confidence among U.S. consumers rose last week to the highest level since early October as tensions in Washington calmed and hiring improved. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index increased to minus 33.7 in the period ended Nov. 24, the strongest in seven weeks, from minus 34.6. CONT. Ben Schenkel, Bloomberg Read more »
Online Holiday Shopping Rises, Still Trails Other Venues
As the Christmas shopping season gets underway in earnest this Friday, for the first time, a majority of Americans, 53%, say they are very or somewhat likely to do their Christmas shopping online this year. This is the highest percentage since Gallup first asked the question in 1998. Meanwhile, the […] Read more »
Americans’ Confidence in the Economy Falters
Americans’ confidence in the economy stalled last week after improving for five consecutive weeks. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index slipped two points to -26, but remains more positive than the -39 found during the recent government shutdown. Still, weekly confidence is significantly below the -15 mark measured leading up to the […] Read more »