US Consumer Confidence , Shaken Amid High Prices , and Lingering Recession Fears.
'The Independent' reports that consumer
confidence in the United States continues to
hold steady despite high prices and declining
optimism regarding the short-term future.
'The Independent' reports that consumer
confidence in the United States continues to
hold steady despite high prices and declining
optimism regarding the short-term future.
On March 26, the Conference Board research group
released its consumer confidence index, which
measures Americans' outlook for the next six months.
The index tracking consumer
confidence fell to 104.7 in March
from a revised 104.8 in February.
The index measuring short-term expectations
for income, business and the overall job
market fell to 73.8 from 76.3 last month.
'The Independent' reports that
any number below 80 could signal
the potential for a recession.
At the same time, consumers'
view of current conditions improved
to 151 from 147.6 last month.
The month before, consumers'
optimism regarding current
conditions had been at 154.9.
Economists pay close attention to consumer
spending as it accounts for approximately
70% of the United States' economic activity.
Last month, the Conference Board's
index saw larger declines, falling from
106.7 from a revised 110.9 in January.
At the time, economists had forecast
that the index was going to stay
steady from January to February.
The index tracking short-term
expectations fell from 81.5
in January to 79.8.