Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Consumer confidence continues to be on the upswing, though moderately, according to the Consumer Confidence Index.
The index now stands at 103, up from 101.3, in August, according to The Conference Board, a research association that compiles the data.
“Consumer confidence increased moderately in September, following August’s sharp rebound,” Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board, says. “Consumers’ more positive assessment of current conditions fueled this month’s increase and drove the Present Situation Index to an eight-year high. Consumers’ expectations for the short-term outlook, however, remained relatively flat, although there was a modest improvement in income expectations. Thus, while consumers view current economic conditions more favorably, they do not foresee growth accelerating in the months ahead.”
The current conditions were positive in September, with the number of people saying business conditions are “good” increasing from 23.7 percent to 28 percent. The number of people saying business conditions are “bad” declined modestly from 17.8 percent to 16.7 percent.
Yet the job market still seems to mixed, with the number of people stating jobs are “plentiful” increasing from 22.1 percent to 25.1 percent. The number of people saying jobs are “hard to get” rose from 21.7 to 24.3 percent.
