Confidence declines as expectations weaken further.The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Consumer Confidence Index A measure of consumer views regarding the current economic situation and consumer expectations for the future. Information for the index is compiled and released on the last Tuesday of each month by the Conference Board, an , which had increased in January January: see month. , declined in February February: see month. . The Index now stands at 101.7 (1985=100), down from 106.8 in January. The Present Situation Index rose to 129.3 from 128.8. The Expectations Index, however, fell to 83.3 from 92.1 last month. The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by TNS TNS transcutaneous neural stimulation. . TNS is the world's largest custom research company. The cutoff date for February's preliminary results was February 21 st. Consumers' appraisal of overall current conditions held steady in February. Consumers claiming conditions are "good" edged up to 26.2 percent from 25.9 percent. Those claiming conditions are "bad," edged down to 15.5 percent from 15.9 percent. Labor market labor market A place where labor is exchanged for wages; an LM is defined by geography, education and technical expertise, occupation, licensure or certification requirements, and job experience conditions, however, were mixed. Consumers saying jobs are "plentiful plen·ti·ful adj. 1. Existing in great quantity or ample supply. 2. Providing or producing an abundance: a plentiful harvest. " increased slightly to 27.3 percent from 27.0 percent, while those claiming jobs are "hard to get" moved up to 20.7 percent from 20.3 percent. Consumers' short-term Short-term Any investments with a maturity of one year or less. short-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss on the value of an asset that has been held less than a specified period of time. outlook was much bleaker in February than in January. Consumers expecting business conditions to worsen wors·en tr. & intr.v. wors·ened, wors·en·ing, wors·ens To make or become worse. worsen Verb to make or become worse worsening adjn increased to 11.1 percent from 10.5 percent, while consumers expecting business conditions to improve declined to 16.0 percent from 17.9 percent. The outlook for the labor market was also less favorable fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. . The percentage of consumers expecting fewer jobs to become available in the coming months increased 20.0 percent from 15.2 percent in January, while those expecting more jobs declined to 13.4 percent from 13.6 percent. The proportion of consumers anticipating their incomes to increase in the months ahead eased to 18.6 percent from 19.9 percent last month. The Present Situation Index continues to hold steady at a four-and-a-half year high (Aug. 2001, 144.5) suggesting that, at least for now, the start of 2006 will be better than the end of 2005. However, consumers are growing increasingly concerned about the short-term health of the economy and, in turn, about job prospects. The Expectations Index is now at its lowest level in three years (March 2003, 61.4), excluding the two months following Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. . If expectations continue to
lose ground, the outlook for the remainder of 2006 could deteriorate de·te·ri·o·ratev. 1. To grow worse in function or condition. 2. To weaken or disintegrate. .
February Results
[down arrow] Consumer Confidence
101.7 -5.1
[up arrow] Present Situation
129.3 +0.5
[down arrow] Expectations
83.3 -8.8
Consumer Confidence and Buying Plans
Based on surveys conducted by TNS
Percentage of households= 100%
2005
All series
seasonally adjusted Feb. Mar. Apr. May June
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 104.4 103.0 97.5 103.1 106.2
Present Situation 116.8 117.0 113.8 117.8 120.8
Expectations 96.1 93.7 86.7 93.4 96.4
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 24.6 26.3 26.4 26.7 26.7
Bad 15.7 15.8 17.6 16.4 15.3
Normal 59.7 57.9 56.0 56.9 58.0
Employment
Jobs plentiful 21.1 21.8 20.4 22.9 22.5
Jobs not so plentiful 56.5 54.4 56.7 53.0 55.0
Jobs hard to get 22.4 23.8 22.9 24.1 22.5
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 17.9 19.3 17.7 19.0 19.5
Worse 7.8 8.2 9.9 9.5 9.0
Same 74.3 72.5 72.4 71.5 71.5
Employment
More jobs 15.0 15.1 14.0 15.2 15.4
Fewer jobs 16.5 15.8 18.4 16.0 16.4
Same 68.5 69.1 67.6 68.8 68.2
Income
Increase 18.7 17.2 16.8 17.8 19.9
Decrease 7.3 9.6 9.7 8.6 7.5
Same 74.0 73.2 73.5 73.6 72.6
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 7.2 5.7 5.8 7.8 6.6
New 3.0 3.0 2.8 4.1 2.8
Used 3.1 1.9 2.4 2.6 3.1
Uncertain 1.1 0.8 0.6 1.1 0.7
Home
Yes 4.1 3.8 4.1 3.5 3.6
New 1.3 1.4 1.1 1.4 1.0
Lived in 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.7
Uncertain 1.0 0.7 1.5 0.7 0.9
Major appliances
Total plans 28.2 30.8 32.6 33.1 32.4
Refrigerator 4.4 5.3 4.7 5.3 4.8
Washing machine 3.8 4.3 3.7 4.1 4.3
TV Set 7.2 7.5 7.5 8.7 8.3
Vacuum Cleaner 5.0 5.5 5.9 6.4 5.5
Range 2.7 3.0 4.4 3.4 3.1
Clothes dryer 3.5 3.9 4.5 3.7 4.4
Air conditioner 1.6 1.3 1.9 1.5 2.0
Carpet 4.3 5.3 5.3 5.9 4.8
Vacation Intended Within Six Months:
Percent
Vacation Intended 42.9 42.3 42.4
Destination
U.S. 36.5 35.2 35.5
Foreign country 8.5 9.0 8.5
Means of Travel
Automobile 22.9 21.0 22.0
Airplane 19.3 21.1 20.6
Other 3.1 4.1 3.6
Business Employment
2005
All series
seasonally adjusted July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 103.6 105.5 87.5 85.2 98.3
Present Situation 119.3 123.8 110.4 107.8 113.2
Expectations 93.2 93.3 72.3 70.1 88.4
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 28.7 29.7 25.2 23.3 25.6
Bad 16.7 15.1 17.8 18.4 17.9
Normal 54.6 55.2 57.0 58.3 56.5
Employment
Jobs plentiful 22.9 23.6 20.7 20.7 21.1
Jobs not so plentiful 53.3 53.3 54.3 54.0 55.3
Jobs hard to get 23.8 23.1 25.0 25.3 23.6
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 17.9 18.7 15.4 14.1 19.0
Worse 9.5 10.0 19.6 18.5 11.5
Same 72.6 71.3 65.0 67.4 69.5
Employment
More jobs 15.6 16.4 14.0 12.3 14.1
Fewer jobs 16.7 17.3 24.8 24.0 18.1
Same 67.7 66.3 61.2 63.7 67.8
Income
Increase 18.6 19.7 18.1 17.4 21.3
Decrease 8.4 8.9 10.7 10.6 9.8
Same 73.0 71.4 71.2 72.0 68.9
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 7.6 6.2 5.8 6.4 5.0
New 3.0 3.2 2.8 2.6 2.7
Used 3.3 3.1 2.6 3.0 1.8
Uncertain 1.3 0.0 0.4 0.8 0.5
Home
Yes 3.8 3.5 3.4 2.8 3.0
New 1.2 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.8
Lived in 1.7 1.4 1.9 0.9 1.5
Uncertain 0.9 0.9 0.7 1.0 0.7
Major appliances
Total plans 31.7 29.7 28.4 25.0 30.5
Refrigerator 5.1 4.4 4.1 4.0 4.2
Washing machine 3.9 3.6 3.5 3.6 4.2
TV Set 7.0 7.1 7.7 7.0 7.4
Vacuum Cleaner 6.4 5.7 5.2 3.7 4.8
Range 3.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 3.3
Clothes dryer 3.4 3.8 3.3 2.5 3.9
Air conditioner 2.1 2.4 2.0 1.7 2.7
Carpet 5.8 4.8 5.1 5.1 4.5
Vacation Intended Within Six Months:
Percent
Vacation Intended 43.2 45.4
Destination
U.S. 35.2 38.4
Foreign country 9.5 8.5
Means of Travel
Automobile 21.4 23.3
Airplane 20.5 17.6
Other 3.8 5.2
Employment Income
2005 2006
All series
seasonally adjusted Dec. Jan. (r) Feb. (p)
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 103.8 106.8 101.7
Present Situation 120.7 128.8 129.3
Expectations 92.6 92.1 83.3
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 24.4 25.9 26.2
Bad 14.9 15.9 15.5
Normal 60.7 58.2 58.3
Employment
Jobs plentiful 23.3 27.0 27.3
Jobs not so plentiful 54.2 52.7 52.0
Jobs hard to get 22.5 20.3 20.7
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 18.4 17.9 16.0
Worse 9.1 10.5 11.1
Same 72.5 71.6 72.9
Employment
More jobs 14.4 13.6 13.4
Fewer jobs 17.7 15.2 20.0
Same 67.9 71.2 66.6
Income
Increase 21.3 19.9 18.6
Decrease 8.7 8.2 9.6
Same 70.0 71.9 71.8
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 6.1 6.7 7.1
New 2.8 2.9 3.3
Used 2.3 3.0 2.9
Uncertain 1.0 0.8 0.9
Home
Yes 2.8 3.0 3.1
New 0.9 0.9 1.2
Lived in 0.9 1.2 1.2
Uncertain 1.0 0.9 0.7
Major appliances
Total plans 32.1 33.0 31.9
Refrigerator 4.6 6.0 4.2
Washing machine 4.3 4.4 4.2
TV Set 8.4 8.4 9.5
Vacuum Cleaner 5.7 5.4 4.9
Range 3.6 3.5 2.8
Clothes dryer 3.9 3.6 4.0
Air conditioner 1.6 1.7 2.3
Carpet 5.8 6.1 4.6
Vacation Intended Within Six Months:
Percent
Vacation Intended 45.0 44.5
Destination
U.S. 36.1 36.6
Foreign country 9.8 9.9
Means of Travel
Automobile 21.3 22.4
Airplane 18.8 21.0
Other 4.8 3.6
(p)--preliminary (r)--revised
Inflation Interest Rates Stock Prices
Not Seasonally 2005
Adjusted Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.
Expectations for Twelve Months Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 4.4 4.8 5.5 4.8 4.8 4.7 5.1 6.8
Interest Rates
Higher 71.2 69.9 73.9 76.1 68.3 69.4 69.7 71.0
Same 22.6 22.5 18.8 18.5 24.6 23.8 22.8 21.1
Lower 6.2 7.6 7.3 5.4 7.1 6.8 7.5 7.9
Stock Prices
Increase 39.4 37.1 30.5 33.3 35.2 31.6 33.7 29.2
Same 41.2 41.3 40.6 40.2 42.1 45.3 42.5 40.2
Decrease 19.4 21.6 28.9 26.5 22.7 23.1 23.8 30.6
Not Seasonally 2005 2006
Adjusted Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. (r) Feb.(p)
Expectations for Twelve Months Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 6.4 5.4 5.2 5.1 5.1
Interest Rates
Higher 72.7 77.7 70.8 70.8 70.2
Same 19.7 16.5 22.6 23.4 22.7
Lower 7.6 5.8 6.6 5.8 7.1
Stock Prices
Increase 28.3 35.4 34.9 35.5 32.1
Same 40.5 43.7 42.5 44.0 43.6
Decrease 31.2 20.9 22.6 20.5 24.3
2005
All series
seasonally adjusted Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household
Head
Under 35 107.7 108.5 114.3 123.7 118.6 123.0
35-54 104.2 100.8 97.0 100.7 109.7 101.1
55 and over 100.8 100.8 90.0 96.3 96.7 97.7
Household Income
Under $15,000 73.5 65.9 65.7 80.8 82.1 70.4
$15,000-24,999 84.7 94.8 79.2 85.3 82.2 84.0
$25,000-34,999 96.9 96.0 84.9 93.3 101.4 88.1
$35,000-49,999 106.0 96.8 96.4 96.0 105.5 110.4
$50.000 and over 121.9 120.1 114.9 120.9 121.4 121.0
2005
All series
seasonally adjusted Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household
Head
Under 35 121.6 94.8 101.5 109.0 123.4
35-54 100.5 87.9 81.7 98.1 102.9
55 and over 83.4 81.6 94.7 97.4 102.9
Household Income
Under $15,000 75.0 63.9 60.5 68.3 74.5
$15,000-24,999 87.7 57.6 67.6 86.8 83.3
$25,000-34,999 76.5 74.5 90.4 95.0 97.4
$35,000-49,999 110.7 91.4 84.0 92.4 104.4
$50.000 and over 123.7 104.2 100.7 115.3 122.3
3 mos.
2006 Percent
All series
seasonally adjusted Jan. (r) Feb. (p) Change *
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household
Head
Under 35 117.4 115.9 16.8
35-54 106.1 98.4 14.8
55 and over 102.9 97.6 14.7
Household Income
Under $15,000 78.8 71.0 16.4
$15,000-24,999 84.6 87.0 20.2
$25,000-34,999 97.4 95.4 19.2
$35,000-49,999 100.4 94.7 11.8
$50.000 and over 126.8 119.8 15.2
* Percent Change: Average of last three months shown as compared with
preceding three months. Age and Income data have been adjusted for
seasonal variations.
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: 2005
U.S. Average, 1985=100 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June
New England
Consumer Confidence 98.9 109.7 104.2 74.4 90.6 97.1
Index
Present Situation 101.9 129.3 117.6 90.2 108.9 119.8
Expectations 96.9 96.6 95.4 63.9 78.4 81.9
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence 86.7 89.0 83.9 79.2 70.7 87.9
Index
Present Situation 84.0 82.3 89.7 86.7 81.9 108.2
Expectations 88.5 93.4 80.0 74.3 63.2 74.4
East North Central
Consumer Confidence 87.0 84.0 83.6 71.6 76.8 79.5
Index
Present Situation 79.7 78.0 74.7 69.5 77.9 79.8
Expectations 91.9 88.0 89.6 73.0 76.1 79.4
West North Central
Consumer Confidence 104.7 117.5 91.3 103.4 100.0 103.7
Index
Present Situation 101.3 131.8 93.7 127.7 115.0 131.9
Expectations 107.0 107.9 89.8 87.2 90.0 85.0
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence 114.5 120.7 121.7 109.0 120.6 123.4
Index
Present Situation 132.0 138.0 142.6 134.2 143.7 150.3
Expectations 102.8 109.2 107.9 92.2 105.1 105.5
East South Central
Consumer Confidence 115.6 99.3 116.1 107.7 101.5 107.3
Index
Present Situation 123.1 102.3 127.5 117.2 109.3 119.9
Expectations 110.7 97.3 108.4 101.3 96.2 98.9
West South Central
Consumer Confidence 125.7 115.5 113.4 113.6 113.8 113.4
Index
Present Situation 128.8 112.1 127.8 127.3 130.2 130.1
Expectations 123.7 117.9 103.8 104.5 102.9 102.2
Mountain
Consumer Confidence 119.2 115.8 117.8 112.8 120.2 130.1
Index
Present Situation 126.1 128.1 129.3 128.3 147.8 149.3
Expectations 114.5 107.7 110.1 102.5 101.9 117.3
Pacific
Consumer Confidence 110.6 102.9 106.1 101.6 106.6 109.0
Index
Present Situation 108.8 106.7 116.1 118.5 120.0 122.8
Expectations 111.8 100.4 99.4 90.3 97.6 99.8
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: 2005
U.S. Average, 1985=100 July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
New England
Consumer Confidence 81.3 100.7 70.1 71.6 94.0 89.5
Index
Present Situation 120.2 120.1 107.7 105.7 130.6 109.5
Expectations 55.4 87.8 45.1 48.9 69.6 76.2
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence 88.0 72.4 67.9 76.8 77.7 83.8
Index
Present Situation 107.9 88.6 84.3 98.1 87.0 104.3
Expectations 74.8 61.6 56.9 62.6 71.5 70.2
East North Central
Consumer Confidence 81.4 79.9 68.0 60.7 69.0 74.4
Index
Present Situation 84.9 87.2 81.9 65.6 70.8 84.9
Expectations 79.0 75.1 58.7 57.5 67.8 67.4
West North Central
Consumer Confidence 89.8 111.0 83.9 90.9 95.9 106.6
Index
Present Situation 125.8 129.2 115.1 128.6 127.1 124.3
Expectations 65.8 98.9 63.0 65.7 75.1 94.8
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence 113.1 118.6 106.1 105.8 119.7 121.4
Index
Present Situation 137.0 150.9 139.5 138.0 142.3 147.6
Expectations 97.2 97.1 83.8 84.3 104.6 103.9
East South Central
Consumer Confidence 105.0 101.9 82.9 100.8 98.4 97.4
Index
Present Situation 116.3 114.5 99.0 121.6 104.6 121.6
Expectations 97.4 93.5 72.2 86.9 94.3 81.2
West South Central
Consumer Confidence 114.0 111.2 88.7 101.8 121.1 113.2
Index
Present Situation 120.6 130.7 118.9 129.4 138.6 131.0
Expectations 109.7 98.2 68.6 83.5 109.5 101.3
Mountain
Consumer Confidence 124.9 132.0 117.6 104.8 134.3 114.4
Index
Present Situation 141.9 155.4 152.6 142.0 162.7 142.2
Expectations 113.7 116.4 94.3 80.1 115.4 95.8
Pacific
Consumer Confidence 111.1 112.8 107.1 98.0 107.7 113.5
Index
Present Situation 127.2 137.9 139.8 128.6 128.4 135.8
Expectations 100.4 96.1 85.3 77.7 94.0 98.6
3-MONTH
Seasonally unadjusted AVG.
Index numbers: 2006 Dec.,Jan.,Feb. Percent
U.S. Average, 1985=100 Jan. (r) Feb (p) 2005 2006 Change
New England
Consumer Confidence 92.2 86.8 103.6 89.5 -13.7
Index
Present Situation 116.8 98.6 113.6 108.3 -4.7
Expectations 75.8 78.9 97.0 76.9 -20.7
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence 82.5 84.0 86.5 83.5 -3.5
Index
Present Situation 95.6 98.6 87.0 99.5 14.4
Expectations 73.8 74.2 86.1 72.8 -15.5
East North Central
Consumer Confidence 77.3 66.1 83.7 72.6 -13.2
Index
Present Situation 84.3 75.1 75.1 81.4 8.4
Expectations 72.7 60.1 89.4 66.7 -25.3
West North Central
Consumer Confidence 111.8 117.0 111.1 111.8 0.7
Index
Present Situation 116.2 140.0 115.2 126.8 10.1
Expectations 108.9 101.8 108.4 101.8 -6.0
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence 120.0 122.0 117.8 121.1 2.8
Index
Present Situation 147.8 150.6 135.2 148.6 9.9
Expectations 101.5 102.9 106.2 102.8 -3.2
East South Central
Consumer Confidence 107.6 104.5 105.2 103.2 -1.9
Index
Present Situation 111.3 115.1 111.9 116.0 3.7
Expectations 105.1 97.5 100.7 94.6 -6.1
West South Central
Consumer Confidence 115.1 123.7 116.4 117.3 0.8
Index
Present Situation 137.9 135.5 120.6 134.8 11.8
Expectations 99.9 115.8 113.5 105.7 -6.9
Mountain
Consumer Confidence 144.3 117.6 118.8 125.4 5.6
Index
Present Situation 180.1 152.7 129.6 158.3 22.1
Expectations 120.5 94.3 111.6 103.5 -7.2
Pacific
Consumer Confidence 126.6 113.5 105.5 117.9 11.8
Index
Present Situation 143.8 144.3 108.2 141.3 30.6
Expectations 115.2 92.9 103.6 102.3 -1.3
* Percent Change: Average of last three months shown as compared with
the same period a year ago. Regional data are not adjusted for seasonal
variation.
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