Eye On Housing
The January 2015 University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment soared to its highest level since January 2004. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index also increased sharply, reaching its highest level since August 2007. While three month moving averages smooth these increases, the picture of renewed confidence shines brightly. The Index of Consumer Sentiment Index increased to 98.1 in January,… Read More ›
Improving job and wage prospects lifted the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment December Index to its most favorable level since its last cyclical peak in January 2007. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index reversed its November retreat based on a more favorable estimate of current business and labor market conditions. The Consumer Sentiment Index increased to 93.6 in December from… Read More ›
Spurred by improved consumer expectations, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index reached its highest level since July 2007, and the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased sharply. This 3-month moving average charts both surveys. The Consumer Sentiment Index increased to 86.9 in October from 84.6 the previous month. The survey’s measure of consumer expectations increased to 79.6 in… Read More ›
Recently released data by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) and Case-Shiller indicates that its measure of house prices, the House Price Index – National, rose by 5.6% on a year-over-year not seasonally adjusted basis. This is the 27th consecutive month of year-over-year increases in the house price index. Over this period of more than two years, house prices have risen by… Read More ›
Consumers continue to regain confidence, but they may be concerned about the near future. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index increased for the fourth consecutive month to 92.4 in August. But the expectations for the next six months remained unchanged. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index climbed to 82.5 in August from 82.1 in July, and its Current… Read More ›
Housing news continued to improve as pending home sales surged following a slow first quarter. Home prices also continued to move higher but at a more moderate pace, suggesting the extra push caused by investors may be slowing. Economic news, however, was mixed. Consumer confidence increased in response to improving labor market conditions. On the other hand, new estimates from… Read More ›
Consumers have been regaining confidence and feeling better about the jobs market. For instance, the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose to a six-and-a-half year high in June. Moreover, their expectations for the next six months improved to a 10-month high. The Thomson Reuters/University Consumer Sentiment Index ticked up as well in June, but not at record levels. In addition,… Read More ›
March was another month of mixed results for consumer confidence. The Consumer Confidence Index increased after a falling in February. The Consumer Sentiment Index fell after increasing in February. According to the Conference Board the Consumer Confidence Index jumped 4.0 points on a month-over-month seasonally adjusted basis in to 82.3. The rebound from February was attributed to improved expectations for… Read More ›
February was a month of mixed results for consumer confidence as the Consumer Sentiment Index increased while the Consumer Confidence Index decreased slightly. After a slide in late 2013, both measures have shown resilience in the face of extreme weather and high utility bills. According to Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan, the Consumer Sentiment Index increased in February… Read More ›
Measures of consumer confidence were mixed in the most recent release. The Conference Board reported that the Consumer Confidence Index increased by 3.2 points on a month-over-month seasonally adjusted basis in December to 80.7. Meanwhile, according to Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan, the Consumer Sentiment Index fell by 2.1 points. The month-over-month improvement in the Consumer Confidence Index was… Read More ›