Consumer sentiment advanced last week, an indication that gains in housing and stock markets are bolstering Americans’ outlooks on the economy. The weekly Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index (COMFCOMF) increased to minus 29.4 for the period ended May 19 from minus 30.2 the prior week. A measure of personal finances was […] Read more »
U.S. Economic Confidence Reaches Five-Year Weekly High
Americans were more confident in the economy last week than in any week since Gallup began tracking economic confidence daily in 2008. The Gallup Economic Confidence Index rose to -5 last week from -11 the prior week. The current score exceeds the previous weekly high of -8 reached two weeks […] Read more »
Americans Say Family of Four Needs Nearly $60K to ‘Get By’
The federal poverty threshold for a family of four is just under $24,000; however, Americans believe such a family unit living in their community needs more than double that — $58,000, on average — just to “get by.” That estimate reflects 29% of Americans saying these families need up to […] Read more »
Consumers’ Outlooks on Economy Improve to Five-Month High
Consumers’ economic outlook improved in May to its best reading in five months, showing Americans are looking beyond the current slowdown to a rebound in growth later this year. The monthly Bloomberg consumer economic expectations gauge rose to minus 1 from minus 4 in April, a report today showed. The […] Read more »
Economic Confidence Retreats From Five-Year High
Gallup’s U.S. Economic Confidence Index fell slightly to -11 last week after tying the five-year weekly high of -8 the prior week and registering improvement for three straight weeks. Still, the current reading is one of the highest weekly scores of the year. [cont.] Alyssa Brown, Gallup Read more »
Standard of Living Perceptions Hit Five-Year High
Gallup’s U.S. Standard of Living Index climbed to 40 in April, the highest monthly average in the five years Gallup has tracked this measure. The current score is up slightly from 38 in March and 35 in April of 2012. [cont.] Alyssa Brown, Gallup Read more »