Consumer confidence declined last week to the lowest level since November as Americans’ views of their finances and the buying climate weakened. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index fell to 33.3 in the period ended May 25 from 34.1 the prior week. CONT. Shobhana Chandra, Bloomberg Read more »
Conservative Lead on Social and Economic Ideology Shrinking
More Americans continue to identify themselves as conservatives than as liberals on economic and social matters. However, the conservative advantage on each dimension is shrinking from higher points in recent years, down to 21 points on economic policy and four points on social policy. CONT. Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup Read more »
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Improves in May
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had decreased in April, improved moderately in May. The Index now stands at 83.0 (1985=100), up from 81.7 in April. The Present Situation Index increased to 80.4 from 78.5, while the Expectations Index edged up to 84.8 from 83.9 in April. CONT. Conference […] Read more »
U.S. Economic Confidence Flat, Still Below Last May’s Levels
Gallup’s U.S. Economic Confidence Index was -15 for the week ending May 25, its ninth consecutive week at or near this level. The index slumped a bit in early March, ranging from -18 to -20, but has fluctuated narrowly between -14 and -17 since. CONT. Rebecca Riffkin, Gallup Read more »
Americans Say Big Business Helps Overseas, Less So at Home
Americans see large U.S. companies as having a more positive effect overseas than they do domestically. While 66% of Americans believe that large U.S. companies do a good job creating good jobs for citizens in other countries where they do business, far fewer, 43%, say the companies do a good […] Read more »
Americans’ Outlook for U.S. Economy Falls to Seven-Month Low
Americans’ expectations for the economy deteriorated to a seven-month low in May, a sign that the rebound from weakness earlier this year may be limited by still-cautious consumers. An expectations gauge that tracks where the economy is heading declined to 42.5 in May from 48 in the month prior, data […] Read more »