There is no doubt that an economic recovery is unfolding. Since the beginning of the year, initial claims for unemployment benefits have been in general decline, falling from 900,000 per week to roughly 370,000 recently. This drop in unemployment claims coincides with a steady increase in consumer ... READ MORE >
consumer confidence
CHART OF THE DAY: Consumer confidence is sign of good things to come
The June reading of the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index is a sign of good things to come with respect to hiring and spending in months ahead. The index increased to 127.3 in June from a revised up 120 in May. The topline index is traditionally interpreted as a forward-looking indicator of ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: $900 billion rescue package will aid consumers who need it most
The December decrease in U.S. consumer confidence shows how important fiscal aid for households provided by Congress’s new $2.3 trillion spending bill is to consumers. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which is based on a survey of a random sample of U.S. households, fell short of ... READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Consumer confidence bounces back
After hitting a six-year low in August, consumer confidence firmly beat expectations and rebounded in September. The Conference Board, a think tank, reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 101.8 — a jump from 86.3 in August — and surpassed analysts’ forecasts of a slight ... READ MORE >
Chart of the Day: Consumer confidence falls to six-year low
The Conference Board’s measure of consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in six years in August, underscoring uncertainty amid high unemployment in a U.S. economy that has faced pandemic-driven stops and starts since mid-March. The unemployment bonus provided by the CARES Act is expiring, and great ... READ MORE >