Consumer confidence improved for the first time in five weeks as Americans grew more upbeat about the outlook for the world’s largest economy. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index increased to minus 30.7 in the week ended Feb. 9 from minus 33.1 the prior period. A measure of the state of […] Read more »
‘Washington’ still a dirty word, McClatchy-Marist Poll finds
President Barack Obama and Congress get dismal approval ratings from the American public, as most people see little hope Washington can improve the economy or their lives, a new McClatchy-Marist Poll finds. CONT. David Lightman, McClatchy Read more »
Economic Confidence at Lowest Level Since December
The Gallup Economic Confidence Index dipped to -18 for the week ending Feb. 9 — the lowest weekly reading so far in 2014. The index is similar to the -17 measured during the prior two weeks and January’s monthly average of -16. Americans’ confidence in the economy has been falling […] Read more »
Economic Confidence Still Highest in D.C. in 2013
Although scores on Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index improved in most U.S. states in 2013, the index remained negative in all 50. Only the District of Columbia had a positive index. Indexes were least negative in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and California. They were most negative in West Virginia, followed by Alaska. CONT. […] Read more »
Consumer Confidence in U.S. Dropped Last Week to Two-Month Low
Consumer confidence fell last week to the lowest level in more than two months as views on the economy, personal finances and buying climate worsened. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index declined to minus 33.1 in the week ended Feb. 2, the lowest since late November, from minus 31.8 the prior […] Read more »
Where Workforce Dropouts Are Highest
This week, the issue of labor-force participation became a hot topic in Washington. … The workforce-participation declines predate Barack Obama’s presidency, but they have accelerated on his watch. Since Mr. Obama took office in 2009, the labor force participation rate, a measure of the people 16-or-older looking for work or […] Read more »