The employment cost index accelerated above expectations in the first quarter, complicating the Federal Reserve's decision of when to start cutting its policy rate. The index, a closely watched indicator of labor costs by the Fed, will almost certainly guarantee a more hawkish tone from the central ... READ MORE >
Conference Board
Consumer confidence ends the year on a positive note
Consumer confidence rose in December to the highest level in five months as sentiment on both the current and future situations improved markedly. The data from the Conference Board released on Wednesday adds to a string of economic data in recent months that supports further sustained expansion in the ... READ MORE >
Consumer confidence falls to six-month low
Consumer confidence inched down in May to the lowest level in six months as sentiment on both the current economy and expectations weakened. More important, labor market sentiment fell to the lowest level in two years, signaling a potential significant slowdown in May's job gains. More data on the jobs ... READ MORE >
Consumer confidence falls in February amid a worsening outlook
American consumer confidence fell for the second straight month in February as expectations deteriorated to the lowest point since last July, the Conference Board reported on Tuesday. The top-line confidence index dropped to 102.9 from 106.0 in the prior month, while the expectations index ... READ MORE >
Consumer confidence drops as outlook darkens
Consumer confidence fell for the second month in a row as inflation and recession fears dampened the economic outlook. The Conference Board's confidence index dipped to 100.2 in November from 102.2 in October, significantly below the pre-pandemic level of 130. Rising prices remained consumers' top ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Consumer confidence slides
Consumer confidence ticked down in February as expectations for the economy softened, according to data from the Conference Board on Tuesday. High inflation—which might continue to rise because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict—remains a top concern for consumers, dampening spending plans and raising ... READ MORE >
Consumer confidence surveys reflect a bifurcation of the nation’s economy
Recent readings of consumer confidence are revealing an increasingly bifurcated economy as households continue to grapple with the pandemic. The economy can be divided into two camps, the surveys show: one of scarcity where prices are rising and employment remains a challenge, and one of abundance ... READ MORE >
Consumer confidence improves despite concern over omicron variant and inflation
Consumer confidence advanced in December for the third month in a row, driven by a strong labor market and recovery in spending since September, despite risks from the omicron variant and inflation. The headline consumer confidence index rose by 3.9 points to 115.8 on the month, the largest ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: U.S. consumer confidence inches down
Consumer confidence inched down in November to 109.5, the lowest since March, as inflation continued to take its toll, according to a report from the Conference Board on Tuesday. Now, with the emergence of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which is not reflected in the November data, consumer ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Rising consumer confidence
Consumer confidence increased in October, snapping a three-month decline, as concerns about the delta variant subsided. The headline Consumer Confidence Index rose to 113.8, up from 109.8 in September, as consumers expressed a more buoyant view of the economy, according to Conference Board data ... READ MORE >