Consumer confidence declines.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 moderately in July July: see month. , posted a sharp decline in August. The Index now stands at 99.6 (1985=100), down from 107.0 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased to 123.4 from 134.2. The Expectations Index declined to 83.8 from 88.9 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 cut-off cut-off Anesthesiology The point at which elongation of the carbon chain of the 1-alkanol family of anesthetics results in a precipitous drop in the anesthetic potential of these agents–eg, at > 12 carbons in length, there is little anesthetic activity, date for August's preliminary results was August 22nd. Consumers' overall assessment of current conditions was significantly less favorable fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. in August. Consumers claiming conditions are "good" decreased to 26.1 percent from 27.3 percent. Those claiming conditions are "bad" increased to 16.7 percent from 15.0 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 were also less favorable. 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. " decreased to 24.4 percent from 28.6 percent, while those claiming jobs are "hard to get" increased to 21.1 percent from 19.6 in July. 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 more negative in August. Consumers 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 12.9 percent from 10.9 percent. Those expecting business conditions to improve edged down to 15.9 percent from 16.1 percent. The outlook for the labor market was also bleaker. The percentage of consumers expecting more jobs to become available in the coming months decreased to 14.0 percent from 14.3 percent in July. Those expecting fewer jobs increased to 18.3 percent from 16.5 percent. The proportion of consumers anticipating their incomes to increase in the months ahead declined to 17.7 percent from 18.3 percent. Consumer confidence lost significant ground in August and is now at its lowest level this year. Less favorable business conditions coupled with a less favorable job scenario A scenario (from Italian, that which is pinned to the scenery) is a synthetic description of an event or series of actions and events. In the Commedia dell'arte have resulted in the largest one month decline in confidence since Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. last year. Looking
ahead, the glass remains half empty as consumers are growing
increasingly more 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" about the short-term outlook. [GRAPHICS OMITTED]
August Results
* Consumer Confidence
99.6 -7.4
* Present Situation
123.4 -10.8
* Expectations
83.8 -5.1
Consumer Confidence and Buying Plans
Based on surveys conducted by TNS
Percentage of households = 100%
Business Employment Income Inflation Interest Rates Stock Prices
2005
All series seasonally
adjusted Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 105.5 87.5 85.2 98.3 103.8
Present Situation 123.8 110.4 107.8 113.2 120.7
Expectations 93.3 72.3 70.1 88.4 92.6
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 29.7 25.2 23.3 25.6 24.4
Bad 15.1 17.8 18.4 17.9 14.9
Normal 55.2 57.0 58.3 56.5 60.7
Employment
Jobs plentiful 23.6 20.7 20.7 21.1 23.3
Jobs not so plentiful 53.3 54.3 54.0 55.3 54.2
Jobs hard to get 23.1 25.0 25.3 23.6 22.5
Expectations for Six Months
Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 18.7 15.4 14.1 19.0 18.4
Worse 10.0 19.6 18.5 11.5 9.1
Same 71.3 65.0 67.4 69.5 72.5
Employment
More jobs 16.4 14.0 12.3 14.1 14.4
Fewer jobs 17.3 24.8 24.0 18.1 17.7
Same 66.3 61.2 63.7 67.8 67.9
Income
Increase 19.7 18.1 17.4 21.3 21.3
Decrease 8.9 10.7 10.6 9.8 8.7
Same 71.4 71.2 72.0 68.9 70.0
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 6.2 5.8 6.4 5.0 6.1
New 3.2 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.8
Used 3.1 2.6 3.0 1.8 2.3
Uncertain 0.0 0.4 0.8 0.5 1.0
Home
Yes 3.5 3.4 2.8 3.0 2.8
New 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.9
Lived in 1.4 1.9 0.9 1.5 0.9
Uncertain 0.9 0.7 1.0 0.7 1.0
Major appliances
Total plans 29.7 28.4 25.0 30.5 32.1
Refrigerator 4.4 4.1 4.0 4.2 4.6
Washing machine 3.6 3.5 3.6 4.2 4.3
TV Set 7.1 7.7 7.0 7.4 8.4
Vacuum Cleaner 5.7 5.2 3.7 4.8 5.7
Range 2.7 2.6 2.5 3.3 3.6
Clothes dryer 3.8 3.3 2.5 3.9 3.9
Air conditioner 2.4 2.0 1.7 2.7 1.6
Carpet 4.8 5.1 5.1 4.5 5.8
Vacation Intended Within Six
Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 43.2 45.4 45.0
Destination
U.S. 35.2 38.4 36.1
Foreign country 9.5 8.5 9.8
Means of Travel
Automobile 21.4 23.3 21.3
Airplane 20.5 17.6 18.8
Other 3.8 5.2 4.8
2005
Not Seasonally
Adjusted Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Expectations for Twelve Months
Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 5.1 6.8 6.4 5.4 5.2
Interest Rates
Higher 69.7 71.0 72.7 77.7 70.8
Same 22.8 21.1 19.7 16.5 22.6
Lower 7.5 7.9 7.6 5.8 6.6
Stock Prices
Increase 33.7 29.2 28.3 35.4 34.9
Same 42.5 40.2 40.5 43.7 42.5
Decrease 23.8 30.6 31.2 20.9 22.6
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 103.3 83.4 81.6 94.7 97.4
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 90.4 76.5 74.5 90.4 95.0
$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
Business Employment Income Inflation Interest Rates Stock Prices
2006
All series seasonally
adjusted Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 106.8 102.7 107.5 109.8 104.7
Present Situation 128.8 130.3 133.3 136.2 134.1
Expectations 92.1 84.2 90.3 92.3 85.1
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 25.9 26.4 27.9 29.7 28.5
Bad 15.9 15.4 14.7 15.1 15.2
Normal 58.2 58.2 57.4 55.2 56.3
Employment
Jobs plentiful 27.0 27.4 28.3 29.4 29.1
Jobs not so plentiful 52.7 52.4 51.3 50.9 50.7
Jobs hard to get 20.3 20.2 20.4 19.7 20.2
Expectations for Six Months
Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 17.9 16.2 17.8 17.3 16.5
Worse 10.5 10.9 9.8 9.3 12.9
Same 71.6 72.9 72.4 73.4 70.6
Employment
More jobs 13.6 13.4 13.7 15.4 14.8
Fewer jobs 15.2 19.9 16.4 16.3 18.0
Same 71.2 66.7 69.9 68.3 67.2
Income
Increase 19.9 18.8 19.3 18.0 17.0
Decrease 8.2 9.4 9.3 9.1 9.1
Same 71.9 71.8 71.4 72.9 73.9
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 6.7 7.1 5.8 6.8 6.3
New 2.9 3.3 2.5 3.4 2.8
Used 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.4
Uncertain 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.7 1.1
Home
Yes 3.0 3.4 4.1 3.1 2.9
New 0.9 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.7
Lived in 1.2 1.4 1.9 1.6 1.4
Uncertain 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8
Major appliances
Total plans 33.0 32.7 33.8 30.4 33.6
Refrigerator 6.0 4.6 5.9 4.9 5.0
Washing machine 4.4 4.4 4.0 3.8 4.2
TV Set 8.4 9.4 8.5 7.6 8.9
Vacuum Cleaner 5.4 5.0 6.0 5.0 6.3
Range 3.5 2.9 3.6 3.3 3.2
Clothes dryer 3.6 4.0 3.9 3.7 4.0
Air conditioner 1.7 2.4 1.9 2.1 2.0
Carpet 6.1 4.6 5.4 4.7 5.0
Vacation Intended Within Six
Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 44.9 41.9
Destination
U.S. 37.0 35.2
Foreign country 9.9 8.4
Means of Travel
Automobile 22.8 22.3
Airplane 21.0 19.1
Other 3.4 3.4
2006
Not Seasonally
Adjusted Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
Expectations for Twelve Months
Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 5.1 5.1 4.8 5.3 5.6
Interest Rates
Higher 70.8 70.0 71.7 71.6 74.1
Same 23.4 22.9 21.7 21.7 20.1
Lower 5.8 7.1 6.6 6.7 5.8
Stock Prices
Increase 35.5 32.1 36.5 35.9 40.0
Same 44.0 44.1 42.2 43.0 38.8
Decrease 20.5 23.8 21.3 21.1 21.2
2006
All series seasonally
adjusted Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 117.4 116.1 129.2 123.6 120.5
35-54 106.1 100.2 102.4 107.7 101.7
55 and over 102.9 98.1 102.0 105.0 99.8
Household Income
Under $15,000 78.8 73.7 73.1 76.4 72.2
$15,000-24,999 84.6 86.4 91.5 91.5 85.1
$25,000-34,999 97.4 96.6 96.8 96.8 98.2
$35,000-49,999 100.4 93.4 109.1 109.1 96.1
$50,000 and over 126.8 120.9 125.6 125.6 122.5
Business Employment Income Inflation Interest Rates Stock Prices
2006
All series seasonally
adjusted June July(r) Aug.(p)
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 105.4 107.0 99.6
Present Situation 132.2 134.2 123.4
Expectations 87.5 88.9 83.8
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 26.6 27.3 26.1
Bad 15.0 15.0 16.7
Normal 58.4 57.7 57.2
Employment
Jobs plentiful 28.0 28.6 24.4
Jobs not so plentiful 52.0 51.8 54.5
Jobs hard to get 20.0 19.6 21.1
Expectations for Six Months
Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 16.8 16.1 15.9
Worse 11.9 10.9 12.9
Same 71.3 73.0 71.2
Employment
More jobs 15.6 14.3 14.0
Fewer jobs 17.3 16.5 18.3
Same 67.1 69.2 67.7
Income
Increase 17.8 18.3 17.7
Decrease 9.8 8.5 9.1
Same 72.4 73.2 73.2
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 5.5 6.9 6.8
New 2.6 3.1 3.5
Used 2.4 2.6 2.7
Uncertain 0.5 1.2 0.0
Home
Yes 3.2 3.8 3.9
New 0.6 0.5 1.2
Lived in 1.5 1.9 1.9
Uncertain 1.1 1.4 0.8
Major appliances
Total plans 30.7 28.8 33.0
Refrigerator 4.2 4.3 5.1
Washing machine 4.0 4.2 4.4
TV Set 8.5 7.4 7.9
Vacuum Cleaner 5.5 5.0 6.3
Range 3.0 2.3 2.6
Clothes dryer 3.5 3.8 3.9
Air conditioner 2.0 1.8 2.8
Carpet 4.5 4.9 5.0
Vacation Intended Within Six
Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 40.1 43.4
Destination
U.S. 34.4 35.8
Foreign country 8.2 9.3
Means of Travel
Automobile 21.1 21.7
Airplane 20.2 20.2
Other 3.2 3.9
2006
Not Seasonally
Adjusted June July(r) Aug.(p)
Expectations for Twelve Months
Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 5.1 5.1 5.5
Interest Rates
Higher 74.6 75.6 69.6
Same 19.8 18.6 22.5
Lower 5.6 5.8 7.9
Stock Prices
Increase 30.0 31.3 29.2
Same 40.5 41.8 40.8
Decrease 29.5 26.9 30.0
2006 3 mos.
All series seasonally Percent
adjusted June July(r) Aug.(p) Change *
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 119.2 121.9 111.7 -5.5
35-54 103.7 105.5 90.4 -3.9
55 and over 100.5 101.9 101.5 -1.0
Household Income
Under $15,000 71.2 77.6 71.0 -0.9
$15,000-24,999 87.3 89.5 77.1 -3.7
$25,000-34,999 105.0 98.3 91.6 1.6
$35,000-49,999 103.1 107.6 95.1 -5.1
$50,000 and over 121.4 121.9 120.2 -3.3
(p)-prelimianry (c)-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
Index numbers: 2005
U.S. Average 1985 = 100 July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 81.3 100.7 70.1 71.6 94.0
Present Situation 120.2 120.1 107.7 105.7 130.6
Expectations 55.4 87.8 45.1 48.9 69.6
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 88.0 72.4 67.9 76.8 77.7
Present Situation 107.9 88.6 84.3 98.1 87.0
Expectations 74.8 61.6 56.9 62.6 71.5
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 81.4 79.9 68.0 60.7 69.0
Present Situation 84.9 87.2 81.9 65.6 70.8
Expectations 79.0 75.1 58.7 57.5 67.8
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 89.8 111.0 83.9 90.9 95.9
Present Situation 125.8 129.2 115.1 128.6 127.1
Expectations 65.8 98.9 63.0 65.7 75.1
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 113.1 118.6 106.1 105.8 119.7
Present Situation 137.0 150.9 139.5 138.0 142.3
Expectations 97.2 97.1 83.8 84.3 104.6
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 105.0 101.9 82.9 100.8 98.4
Present Situation 116.3 114.5 99.0 121.6 104.6
Expectations 97.4 93.5 72.2 86.9 94.3
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 114.0 111.2 88.7 101.8 121.1
Present Situation 120.6 130.7 118.9 129.4 138.6
Expectations 109.7 98.2 68.6 83.5 109.5
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 124.9 132.0 117.6 104.8 134.3
Present Situation 141.9 155.4 152.6 142.0 162.7
Expectations 113.7 116.4 94.3 80.1 115.4
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 111.1 112.8 107.1 98.0 107.7
Present Situation 127.2 137.9 139.8 128.6 128.4
Expectations 100.4 96.1 85.3 77.7 94.0
Index numbers: 2005 2006
U.S. Average 1985 = 100 Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 89.5 92.2 87.9 85.1 102.5
Present Situation 109.5 116.8 99.7 99.1 132.3
Expectations 76.2 75.8 80.1 75.8 82.6
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 83.8 82.5 83.4 95.0 90.0
Present Situation 104.3 95.6 98.5 108.7 110.7
Expectations 70.2 73.8 73.4 85.8 76.2
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 74.4 77.3 66.0 73.7 75.7
Present Situation 84.9 84.3 75.0 75.4 84.0
Expectations 67.4 72.7 60.0 72.6 70.2
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 106.6 111.8 118.8 107.8 114.2
Present Situation 124.3 116.2 141.9 121.2 138.9
Expectations 94.8 108.9 103.4 98.9 97.8
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 121.4 120.0 124.1 121.5 126.0
Present Situation 147.6 147.8 152.0 154.5 156.9
Expectations 103.9 101.5 105.5 99.5 105.4
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 97.4 107.6 104.4 106.7 108.7
Present Situation 121.6 111.3 116.1 120.6 129.4
Expectations 81.2 105.1 96.7 97.5 94.9
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 113.2 115.1 123.4 125.4 122.9
Present Situation 131.0 137.9 137.3 146.3 148.6
Expectations 101.3 99.9 114.2 111.4 105.8
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 114.4 144.3 119.0 141.1 139.4
Present Situation 142.2 180.1 151.1 169.0 172.3
Expectations 95.8 120.5 97.7 122.5 117.4
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 113.5 126.6 115.5 115.5 114.2
Present Situation 135.8 143.8 147.3 148.1 141.2
Expectations 98.6 115.2 94.4 93.8 96.2
Index numbers:
U.S. Average 1985 = 100 May June July(r) Aug.(p)
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 80.4 77.7 89.5 83.2
Present Situation 110.4 121.9 131.1 116.0
Expectations 60.3 48.2 61.7 61.4
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 83.6 86.0 81.4 73.7
Present Situation 106.2 110.9 106.7 92.7
Expectations 68.5 69.4 64.5 61.0
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 76.5 77.3 68.5 68.3
Present Situation 86.3 85.1 80.0 80.9
Expectations 70.0 72.1 60.8 59.9
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 99.5 103.5 109.9 88.0
Present Situation 133.6 138.7 151.1 133.6
Expectations 76.8 80.0 82.4 57.6
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 118.8 114.9 126.2 108.2
Present Situation 156.1 146.6 160.1 141.0
Expectations 94.0 93.9 103.7 86.3
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 101.5 102.3 108.4 96.0
Present Situation 131.5 134.0 128.6 94.3
Expectations 81.6 81.1 95.0 97.2
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 117.9 124.4 116.3 121.1
Present Situation 150.1 156.8 135.9 145.0
Expectations 96.5 102.9 103.2 105.2
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 124.5 133.8 127.7 119.5
Present Situation 161.0 167.5 166.2 154.3
Expectations 100.3 111.4 102.1 96.3
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 112.8 117.1 122.0 115.5
Present Situation 150.4 153.9 158.9 144.1
Expectations 87.8 92.5 97.4 96.5
3-MONTH AVG.
Index numbers: June,July,Aug. Percent
U.S. Average 1985 = 100 2005 2006 Change
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 93.0 83.5 -10.3
Present Situation 120.0 123.0 2.5
Expectations 75.0 57.1 -23.9
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 82.8 80.3 -2.9
Present Situation 101.5 103.4 1.9
Expectations 70.3 65.0 -7.6
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 80.3 71.3 -11.1
Present Situation 84.0 82.0 -2.4
Expectations 77.8 64.3 -17.4
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 101.5 100.5 -1.0
Present Situation 129.0 141.1 9.4
Expectations 83.2 73.4 -11.9
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 118.4 116.5 -1.6
Present Situation 146.1 149.2 2.2
Expectations 99.9 94.6 -5.3
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 104.7 102.2 -2.4
Present Situation 116.9 118.9 1.7
Expectations 96.6 91.1 -5.7
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 112.9 120.6 6.8
Present Situation 127.1 145.9 14.7
Expectations 103.4 103.8 0.4
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 129.0 127.0 -1.6
Present Situation 148.9 162.6 9.3
Expectations 115.8 103.3 -10.8
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 111.0 118.2 6.5
Present Situation 129.3 152.3 17.8
Expectations 98.8 95.5 -3.4
* 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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