Confidence falls to lowest level in nearly two years.September September: see month. ResultsThe Conference Board's 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 rebounded in August, plummeted in September. The Index now stands at 86.6 (1985=100), down from 105.5 in August. The Present Situation Index decreased to 108.9 from 123.8. The Expectations Index fell to 71.7 from 93.3 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. NFO NFO Info File (file type extension) NFO New Fund Offer NFO National Farmers Organization NFO Naval Flight Officer (US Navy) NFO National Family Opinion . TNS NFO is one of the TNS group of companies (LSE LSE - Language Sensitive Editor : TNN TNN The National Network (formerly The Nashville Network) TNN The Nashville Network (now The National Network) TNN The Nerd Network (online gaming clan) ). The cutoff date for September's preliminary results was September 20th. Consumers' overall assessment of ongoing conditions was considerably less favorable fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. in September. The percentage claiming business conditions are "good" decreased to 25.2 percent from 29.7 percent. Those claiming conditions are "bad" increased to 17.7 percent from 15.1 percent. The employment picture was also less upbeat. Consumers saying jobs are "hard to get" increased to 25.4 percent from 23.1 percent, while those claiming jobs are "plentiful plen·ti·ful adj. 1. Existing in great quantity or ample supply. 2. Providing or producing an abundance: a plentiful harvest. " fell to 20.1 percent from 23.6 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 turned considerably pessimistic pes·si·mism n. 1. A tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable or to take the gloomiest possible view: "We have seen too much defeatism, too much pessimism, too much of a negative approach" . Those anticipating 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 19.8 percent from 10.0 percent. Consumers expecting business conditions to improve declined to 15.3 percent from 18.7 percent. The outlook for the 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 also soured sour adj. sour·er, sour·est 1. Having a taste characteristic of that produced by acids; sharp, tart, or tangy. 2. Made acid or rancid by fermentation. 3. . The percentage of consumers expecting more jobs to become available in the coming months decreased to 14.0 percent from 16.4 percent, while those expecting fewer jobs increased to 25.0 percent in September versus 17.3 percent in August. The proportion of consumers anticipating their incomes to decrease in the months ahead rose to 10.8 percent from 8.9 percent last month. Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. , coupled with soaring soaring: see flight; glider. soaring or gliding Sport of flying a glider or sailplane. The craft is towed behind a powered airplane to an altitude of about 2,000 ft (600 m) and then released. gasoline gasoline or petrol, light, volatile mixture of hydrocarbons for use in the internal-combustion engine and as an organic solvent, obtained primarily by fractional distillation and "cracking" of petroleum, but also obtained from natural gas, by prices and a less optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op job outlook, has pushed consumer confidence to its lowest level in nearly two years (81.7 in October October: see month. 2003) and created a degree of uncertainty and concern about the short-term future. Historically, shocks have had a short-term impact on consumer confidence, especially on consumers' expectations. Fuel prices remain high, though they have retreated re·treat n. 1. a. The act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant. b. The process of going backward or receding from a position or condition gained. 2. in recent days, and when combined with a weaker job market outlook will likely curb both confidence and spending for the short-run Adj. 1. short-run - relating to or extending over a limited period; "short-run planning"; "a short-term lease"; "short-term credit" short-term short - primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration; "a short life"; "a . As rebuilding efforts take hold and job growth gains momentum, consumers' confidence should rebound rebound (rē´bownd), n/v 1. a recovery from illness. n 2. an outbreak of fresh reflex activity after withdrawal of a stimulus rebound adjective and return to more positive levels by year-end year-end also year·end n. The end of a year. adj. Occurring or done at the end of the year: a year-end audit. Noun 1. or early 2006.
Consumer confidence and buying plans
Based on surveys conducted by TNS NFO
Percentage of households = 100%
2004
All series
seasonally adjusted Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 96.7 92.9 92.6 102.7
Present Situation 95.3 94.0 96.3 105.7
Expectations 97.7 92.2 90.2 100.7
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 23.4 21.6 23.2 24.4
Bad 20.4 21.4 20.2 17.8
Normal 56.2 57.0 56.6 57.8
Employment
Jobs plentiful 16.6 17.4 17.1 19.4
Jobs not so plentiful 55.4 54.7 54.9 54.2
Jobs hard to get 28.0 27.9 28.0 26.4
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 21.6 20.7 20.3 22.4
Worse 9.4 10.5 11.4 7.7
Same 69.0 68.8 68.3 69.9
Employment
More jobs 17.8 16.7 17.6 16.4
Fewer jobs 16.2 18.3 19.3 15.3
Same 66.0 65.0 63.1 68.3
Income
Increase 20.0 19.0 19.2 21.0
Decrease 9.2 9.5 10.6 8.5
Same 70.8 71.5 70.2 70.5
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 6.3 7.6 4.6 6.6
New 2.6 3.2 2.1 3.2
Used 2.5 3.2 1.8 2.4
Uncertain 1.2 1.2 0.7 1.0
Home
Yes 3.9 3.6 2.6 3.5
New 1.0 0.9 0.7 1.1
Lived in 2.0 1.4 1.3 1.2
Uncertain 0.9 1.3 0.6 1.2
Major appliances
Total plans 29.8 27.8 25.3 30.1
Refrigerator 5.1 4.3 4.2 4.1
Washing machine 3.6 3.8 3.5 4.0
TV Set 6.6 7.5 6.4 8.2
Vacuum Cleaner 5.8 4.5 4.7 5.3
Range 3.4 3.2 2.6 3.2
Clothes dryer 3.0 3.1 2.6 3.7
Air conditioner 2.3 1.4 1.3 1.6
Carpet 5.3 5.0 4.0 5.2
Vacation Intended Within Six Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 47.8 48.5
Destination
U.S. 39.7 39.4
Foreign country 9.3 10.1
Means of Travel
Automobile 25.4 25.5
Airplane 18.4 18.7
Other 4.7 5.2
Inflation Interest Rates Stock Prices
2004
Not Seasonally Adjusted Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Expectations for Twelve Months Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 4.5 5.0 4.8 4.7
Interest Rates
Higher 67.6 70.1 67.3 69.2
Same 26.0 23.4 26.6 24.2
Lower 6.4 6.5 6.1 6.6
Stock Prices
Increase 36.9 33.2 41.6 39.3
Same 41.7 41.8 40.2 40.7
Decrease 21.4 25.0 18.2 20.0
Business
Employment
Income
2005
All series
seasonally adjusted Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 105.1 104.4 103.0 97.5 103.1
Present Situation 112.1 116.8 117.0 113.8 117.8
Expectations 100.4 96.1 93.7 86.7 93.4
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 26.1 24.6 26.3 26.4 26.7
Bad 18.1 15.7 15.8 17.6 16.4
Normal 55.8 59.7 57.9 56.0 56.9
Employment
Jobs plentiful 21.0 21.1 21.8 20.4 22.9
Jobs not so plentiful 54.7 56.5 54.4 56.7 53.0
Jobs hard to get 24.3 22.4 23.8 22.9 24.1
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 22.0 17.9 19.3 17.7 19.0
Worse 7.8 7.8 8.2 9.9 9.5
Same 70.2 74.3 72.5 72.4 71.5
Employment
More jobs 16.6 15.0 15.1 14.0 15.2
Fewer jobs 15.1 16.5 15.8 18.4 16.0
Same 68.3 68.5 69.1 67.6 68.8
Income
Increase 19.0 18.7 17.2 16.8 17.8
Decrease 8.1 7.3 9.6 9.7 8.6
Same 72.9 74.0 73.2 73.5 73.6
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 7.2 7.2 5.7 5.8 7.8
New 2.4 3.0 3.0 2.8 4.1
Used 4.0 3.1 1.9 2.4 2.6
Uncertain 0.8 1.1 0.8 0.6 1.1
Home
Yes 3.5 4.1 3.8 4.1 3.5
New 0.9 1.3 1.4 1.1 1.4
Lived in 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.4
Uncertain 1.0 1.0 0.7 1.5 0.7
Major appliances
Total plans 28.3 28.2 30.8 32.6 33.1
Refrigerator 5.2 4.4 5.3 4.7 5.3
Washing machine 3.0 3.8 4.3 3.7 4.1
TV Set 7.2 7.2 7.5 7.5 8.7
Vacuum Cleaner 5.5 5.0 5.5 5.9 6.4
Range 2.8 2.7 3.0 4.4 3.4
Clothes dryer 2.9 3.5 3.9 4.5 3.7
Air conditioner 1.7 1.6 1.3 1.9 1.5
Carpet 6.1 4.3 5.3 5.3 5.9
Vacation Intended Within Six Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 42.9 42.3
Destination
U.S. 36.5 35.2
Foreign country 8.5 9.0
Means of Travel
Automobile 22.9 21.0
Airplane 19.3 21.1
Other 3.1 4.1
Inflation
Interest Rates
Stock Prices
2005
Not Seasonally Adjusted Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
Expectations for Twelve Months Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 4.5 4.4 4.8 5.5 4.8
Interest Rates
Higher 70.3 71.2 69.9 73.9 76.1
Same 24.1 22.6 22.5 18.8 18.5
Lower 5.6 6.2 7.6 7.3 5.4
Stock Prices
Increase 39.4 39.4 37.1 30.5 33.3
Same 41.3 41.2 41.3 40.6 40.2
Decrease 19.3 19.4 21.6 28.9 26.5
2005
All series
seasonally adjusted June July Aug.(r) Sep.(p)
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 106.2 103.6 105.5 86.6
Present Situation 120.8 119.3 123.8 108.9
Expectations 96.4 93.2 93.3 71.7
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 26.7 28.7 29.7 25.2
Bad 15.3 16.7 15.1 17.7
Normal 58.0 54.6 55.2 57.1
Employment
Jobs plentiful 22.5 22.9 23.6 20.1
Jobs not so plentiful 55.0 53.3 53.3 54.5
Jobs hard to get 22.5 23.8 23.1 25.4
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 19.5 17.9 18.7 15.3
Worse 9.0 9.5 10.0 19.8
Same 71.5 72.6 71.3 64.9
Employment
More jobs 15.4 15.6 16.4 14.0
Fewer jobs 16.4 16.7 17.3 25.0
Same 68.2 67.7 66.3 61.0
Income
Increase 19.9 18.6 19.7 18.0
Decrease 7.5 8.4 8.9 10.8
Same 72.6 73.0 71.4 71.2
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 6.6 7.6 6.2 5.8
New 2.8 3.0 3.2 2.8
Used 3.1 3.3 3.1 2.6
Uncertain 0.7 1.3 0.0 0.4
Home
Yes 3.6 3.8 3.5 3.5
New 1.0 1.2 1.2 0.8
Lived in 1.7 1.7 1.4 1.8
Uncertain 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
Major appliances
Total plans 32.4 31.7 29.7 28.0
Refrigerator 4.8 5.1 4.4 4.1
Washing machine 4.3 3.9 3.6 3.5
TV Set 8.3 7.0 7.1 7.6
Vacuum Cleaner 5.5 6.4 5.7 5.0
Range 3.1 3.8 2.7 2.6
Clothes dryer 4.4 3.4 3.8 3.2
Air conditioner 2.0 2.1 2.4 2.0
Carpet 4.8 5.8 4.8 4.8
Vacation Intended Within Six Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 42.4 43.2
Destination
U.S. 35.5 35.2
Foreign country 8.5 9.5
Means of Travel
Automobile 22.0 21.4
Airplane 20.6 20.5
Other 3.6 3.8
Inflation
Interest Rates
Stock Prices
2005
Not Seasonally Adjusted June July Aug.(r) Sep.(p)
Expectations for Twelve Months Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 4.8 4.7 5.1 6.8
Interest Rates
Higher 68.3 69.4 69.7 71.1
Same 24.6 23.8 22.8 21.0
Lower 7.1 6.8 7.5 7.9
Stock Prices
Increase 35.2 31.6 33.7 29.6
Same 42.1 45.3 42.5 39.5
Decrease 22.7 23.1 23.8 30.9
2004
All series
seasonally adjusted Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 109.3 105.9 95.8 114.0
35-54 97.9 96.8 89.0 99.3
55 and over 90.3 83.4 93.7 101.6
Household Income
Under $15,000 61.1 61.2 59.4 72.5
$15,000-24,999 78.1 73.1 73.1 79.6
$25,000-34,999 94.5 95.2 86.8 93.8
$35,000-49,999 97.7 89.5 91.0 107.5
$50,000 and over 113.6 108.2 110.5 119.6
2005
All series
seasonally adjusted Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 116.5 107.7 108.5 114.3 123.7
35-54 103.2 104.2 100.8 97.0 100.7
55 and over 101.2 100.8 100.8 90.0 96.3
Household Income
Under $15,000 75.6 73.5 65.9 65.7 80.8
$15,000-24,999 88.5 84.7 94.8 79.2 85.3
$25,000-34,999 92.5 96.9 96.0 84.9 93.3
$35,000-49,999 104.7 106.0 96.8 96.4 96.0
$50,000 and over 122.5 121.9 120.1 114.9 120.9
2005 3 mos.
All series Percent
seasonally adjusted June July Aug.(r) Sep.(p) Change *
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 118.6 123.0 121.8 91.6 -5.7
35-54 109.7 101.1 100.7 87.5 -5.9
55 and over 96.7 97.7 103.5 82.8 0.4
Household Income
Under $15,000 82.1 70.4 75.1 62.9 -8.9
$15,000-24,999 82.2 84.0 87.8 56.2 -7.6
$25,000-34,999 101.4 88.1 90.6 75.2 -9.2
$35,000-49,999 105.5 110.4 110.8 89.8 4.4
$50,000 and over 121.4 121.0 123.9 104.4 -2.2
(p)--preliminary (r)--revised
* Percent Change: Average of last three months shown as compared with
preceding three months. Age and Income data have been adjusted for
seasonal variations.
Consumer Confidence by Region
Seasonally unadjusted 2004
Index numbers:
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 82.3 77.1 87.7 88.5 102.4
Present Situation 95.5 83.3 91.4 99.5 109.7
Expectations 73.5 72.9 85.3 81.2 97.6
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 84.9 89.0 78.9 67.9 83.7
Present Situation 92.3 80.7 86.5 66.4 94.8
Expectations 80.0 94.6 73.9 69.0 76.3
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 82.2 77.4 78.0 80.7 80.0
Present Situation 73.6 69.1 80.5 77.2 67.6
Expectations 88.0 82.9 76.4 83.1 88.2
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 96.0 95.1 93.7 103.9 111.1
Present Situation 100.5 103.1 104.4 120.9 112.6
Expectations 92.9 89.8 86.6 92.6 110.2
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 104.1 110.8 113.4 112.2 118.2
Present Situation 116.6 122.1 120.4 129.3 135.8
Expectations 95.8 103.3 108.7 100.8 106.5
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 97.9 89.4 105.0 100.2 100.6
Present Situation 99.4 101.2 112.2 109.1 110.3
Expectations 96.9 81.6 100.2 94.2 94.2
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 106.4 107.8 106.3 107.7 107.8
Present Situation 104.8 103.2 108.8 115.8 121.0
Expectations 107.5 110.9 104.6 102.3 99.0
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 106.1 116.0 111.0 95.1 121.4
Present Situation 109.5 137.9 115.4 110.1 134.6
Expectations 103.9 101.5 108.1 85.1 112.6
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 104.4 106.3 102.2 98.2 102.9
Present Situation 107.7 105.7 101.9 96.8 109.2
Expectations 102.2 106.7 102.4 99.2 98.7
Seasonally unadjusted 2005
Index numbers:
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 98.9 109.7 104.2 74.4 90.6
Present Situation 101.9 129.3 117.6 90.2 108.9
Expectations 96.9 96.6 95.4 63.9 78.4
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 86.7 89.0 83.9 79.2 70.7
Present Situation 84.0 82.3 89.7 86.7 81.9
Expectations 88.5 93.4 80.0 74.3 63.2
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 87.0 84.0 83.6 71.6 76.8
Present Situation 79.7 78.0 74.7 69.5 77.9
Expectations 91.9 88.0 89.6 73.0 76.1
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 104.7 117.5 91.3 103.4 100.0
Present Situation 101.3 131.8 93.7 127.7 115.0
Expectations 107.0 107.9 89.8 87.2 90.0
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 114.5 120.7 121.7 109.0 120.6
Present Situation 132.0 138.0 142.6 134.2 143.7
Expectations 102.8 109.2 107.9 92.2 105.1
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 115.6 99.3 116.1 107.7 101.5
Present Situation 123.1 102.3 127.5 117.2 109.3
Expectations 110.7 97.3 108.4 101.3 96.2
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 125.7 115.5 113.4 113.6 113.8
Present Situation 128.8 112.1 127.8 127.3 130.2
Expectations 123.7 117.9 103.8 104.5 102.9
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 119.2 115.8 117.8 112.8 120.2
Present Situation 126.1 128.1 129.3 128.3 147.8
Expectations 114.5 107.7 110.1 102.5 101.9
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 110.6 102.9 106.1 101.6 106.6
Present Situation 108.8 106.7 116.1 118.5 120.0
Expectations 111.8 100.4 99.4 90.3 97.6
Seasonally unadjusted 2005
Index numbers:
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 June July Aug.(r) Sep.(p)
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 97.1 81.3 100.7 68.1
Present Situation 119.8 120.2 120.1 103.8
Expectations 81.9 55.4 87.8 44.4
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 87.9 88.0 72.4 69.7
Present Situation 108.2 107.9 88.6 85.5
Expectations 74.4 74.8 61.6 59.2
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 79.5 81.4 79.9 66.6
Present Situation 79.8 84.9 87.2 80.3
Expectations 79.4 79.0 75.1 57.4
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 103.7 89.8 111.0 80.0
Present Situation 131.9 125.8 129.2 109.8
Expectations 85.0 65.8 98.9 60.1
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 123.4 113.1 118.6 105.6
Present Situation 150.3 137.0 150.9 139.2
Expectations 105.5 97.2 97.1 83.2
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 107.3 105.0 101.9 83.5
Present Situation 119.9 116.3 114.5 101.7
Expectations 98.9 97.4 93.5 71.3
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 113.4 114.0 111.2 89.5
Present Situation 130.1 120.6 130.7 118.5
Expectations 102.2 109.7 98.2 70.2
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 130.1 124.9 132.0 118.5
Present Situation 149.3 141.9 155.4 155.7
Expectations 117.3 113.7 116.4 93.8
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 109.0 111.1 112.8 104.0
Present Situation 122.8 127.2 137.9 135.7
Expectations 99.8 100.4 96.1 82.8
Seasonally unadjusted 3-MONTH AVG.
Index numbers: July,Aug.,Sept.
Percent
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 2004 2005 Change
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 86.9 83.4 -4.1
Present Situation 93.9 114.7 22.1
Expectations 82.3 62.5 -24.0
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 87.8 76.7 12.6
Present Situation 88.4 94.0 6.2
Expectations 87.4 65.2 -25.4
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 82.3 75.9 -7.8
Present Situation 74.1 84.1 13.5
Expectations 87.8 70.5 19.7
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 100.3 93.6 -6.7
Present Situation 106.7 121.6 14.0
Expectations 96.1 74.9 -22.0
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 110.8 112.4 1.5
Present Situation 122.1 142.4 16.6
Expectations 103.3 92.5 -10.5
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 97.2 96.8 -0.4
Present Situation 102.8 110.8 7.9
Expectations 93.4 87.4 -6.4
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 106.3 104.9 -1.3
Present Situation 106.1 123.2 16.1
Expectations 106.4 92.7 -12.8
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 111.6 125.2 12.1
Present Situation 122.0 151.0 23.8
Expectations 104.7 108.0 3.1
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 107.4 109.3 1.8
Present Situation 107.4 133.6 24.3
Expectations 107.3 93.1 -13.2
* 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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