Consumer Confidence Declines Again in November

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had decreased sharply in October, declined again in November. The Index now stands at 70.4 (1985=100), down from 72.4 in October. The Present Situation Index edged down to 72.0 from 72.6. The Expectations Index declined to 69.3 from 72.2 last month. CONT. Conference […] Read more »

Stay focused on the big picture, Dems

… Obama’s campaign pollster, Joel Benenson, is distributing a new memo among Dems, arguing that even at this moment of terrible press for the health law, the voters’ preoccupation remains elsewhere. … The argument from the White House appears designed to stiffen Dem spines, by urging them to remember the […] Read more »

Confidence in the Economy Continues to Improve

Americans’ confidence in the economy continued to recover last week after taking a hit during the partial U.S. government shutdown. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index rose to -24, much improved from -39 in mid-October during the shutdown, but it has not yet bounced back to the -15 found in mid-September. CONT. […] Read more »

Obama Down But Congress Is Down Further

The bottom has fallen out for everyone in the nation’s political leadership. That’s the message from the latest Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll, which shows that after a government shutdown, near-default on the federal debt, the calamitous debut of President Obama’s health care plan, and continued sluggishness in the economy, […] Read more »