Consumer confidence rebounds in May.May Results The 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 declined in April, bounced back in May. The Index now stands at 102.2 (1985=100), up from 97.5 in April. The Present Situation Index increased to 116.7 from 113.8. The Expectations Index improved to 92.5 from 86.7 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 May's preliminary results was May 23rd. Consumers' assessment of current conditions was more positive in May than in April. The percentage claiming business conditions are "bad" edged down to 16.8 percent from 17.6 percent. Those claiming conditions are "good" was virtually unchanged at 26.5 percent. The employment picture was mixed. Consumers saying jobs are "hard to get" increased to 24.2 percent from 22.9 percent, but 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. " rose to 22.6 percent from 20.4 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, which had been losing ground since January January: see month. , reversed course in May. Those anticipating business conditions to improve increased to 18.6 percent from 17.7 percent, while 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 eased to 9.5 percent from 9.9 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 was also brighter in May. The percentage of consumers expecting more jobs to become available in the coming months edged up to 14.9 percent from 14.0 percent, while those expecting fewer jobs declined to 15.9 percent from 18.4 percent last month. The proportion of consumers anticipating their incomes to improve in the months ahead rose to 17.2 percent from 16.8 percent last month. Consumer Confidence improved in May, gaining back nearly all of the ground it lost in April. The Present Situation Index, despite fluctuations in recent months, is more than 26 points higher than a year ago. And, in looking ahead, consumers' concerns have eased. The Expectations Index, while slightly below year-ago levels, continues to signal economic growth in the months ahead.
Consumer Confidence and Buying Plans
Based on surveys conducted by TNS NFO
Percentage of households = 100%
All series 2004
seasonally adjusted May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985 = 100
Consumer Confidence Index 93.1 102.8 105.7 98.7 96.7 92.9
Present Situation 90.5 105.9 106.4 100.7 95.3 94.0
Expectations 94.8 100.8 105.3 97.3 97.7 92.2
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 22.2 25.8 25.2 23.0 23.4 21.6
Bad 21.6 17.4 19.1 20.2 20.4 21.4
Normal 56.2 56.8 55.7 56.8 56.2 57.0
Employment
Jobs plentiful 16.6 18.3 19.7 18.4 16.6 17.4
Jobs not so plentiful 53.1 55.5 54.6 55.6 55.4 54.7
Jobs hard to get 30.3 26.2 25.7 26.0 28.0 27.9
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 22.8 23.5 23.0 20.2 21.6 20.7
Worse 10.1 9.1 7.1 8.8 9.4 10.5
Same 67.1 67.4 69.9 71.0 69.0 68.8
Employment
More jobs 18.7 19.9 19.5 16.3 17.8 16.7
Fewer jobs 17.3 16.8 13.5 15.1 16.2 18.3
Same 64.0 63.3 67.0 68.6 66.0 65.0
Income
Increase 17.1 19.7 18.0 19.7 20.0 19.0
Decrease 10.2 8.6 8.5 9.2 9.2 9.5
Same 72.7 71.7 73.5 71.1 70.8 71.5
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 6.4 6.4 6.8 6.5 6.3 7.6
New 2.8 3.0 3.3 2.9 2.6 3.2
Used 2.6 2.8 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.2
Uncertain 1.0 0.6 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.2
Home
Yes 4.1 3.6 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.6
New 1.2 1.0 0.9 1.3 1.0 0.9
Lived in 1.7 1.5 2.1 1.7 2.0 1.4
Uncertain 1.2 1.1 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.3
Major appliances
Total plans 33.0 34.3 30.4 29.0 29.8 27.8
Refrigerator 5.4 5.5 4.1 4.2 5.1 4.3
Washing machine 4.3 4.7 4.5 3.6 3.6 3.8
TV Set 7.9 7.9 7.4 7.5 6.6 7.5
Vacuum Cleaner 6.2 5.4 5.4 5.5 5.8 4.5
Range 2.8 3.7 3.2 3.0 3.4 3.2
Clothes dryer 4.2 5.1 3.8 3.4 3.0 3.1
Air conditioner 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.8 2.3 1.4
Carpet 5.9 6.5 6.0 5.4 5.3 5.0
Vacation Intended Within Six Months:
Percent
Vacation Intended 42.7 42.1 47.8
Destination
U.S. 35.5 34.9 39.7
Foreign country 9.3 8.4 9.3
Means of Travel
Automobile 22.4 21.8 25.4
Airplane 20.5 18.5 18.4
Other 3.9 4.1 4.7
Business Employment
All series 2004 2005
seasonally adjusted Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 92.6 102.7 105.1 104.4 103.0
Present Situation 96.3 105.7 112.1 116.8 117.0
Expectations 90.2 100.7 100.4 96.1 93.7
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 23.2 24.4 26.1 24.6 26.3
Bad 20.2 17.8 18.1 15.7 15.8
Normal 56.6 57.8 55.8 59.7 57.9
Employment
Jobs plentiful 17.1 19.4 21.0 21.1 21.8
Jobs not so plentiful 54.9 54.2 54.7 56.5 54.4
Jobs hard to get 28.0 26.4 24.3 22.4 23.8
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 20.3 22.4 22.0 17.9 19.3
Worse 11.4 7.7 7.8 7.8 8.2
Same 68.3 69.9 70.2 74.3 72.5
Employment
More jobs 17.6 16.4 16.6 15.0 15.1
Fewer jobs 19.3 15.3 15.1 16.5 15.8
Same 63.1 68.3 68.3 68.5 69.1
Income
Increase 19.2 21.0 19.0 18.7 17.2
Decrease 10.6 8.5 8.1 7.3 9.6
Same 70.2 70.5 72.9 74.0 73.2
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 4.6 6.6 7.2 7.2 5.7
New 2.1 3.2 2.4 3.0 3.0
Used 1.8 2.4 4.0 3.1 1.9
Uncertain 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.1 0.8
Home
Yes 2.6 3.5 3.5 4.1 3.8
New 0.7 1.1 0.9 1.3 1.4
Lived in 1.3 1.2 1.6 1.8 1.7
Uncertain 0.6 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.7
Major appliances
Total plans 25.3 30.1 28.3 28.2 30.8
Refrigerator 4.2 4.1 5.2 4.4 5.3
Washing machine 3.5 4.0 3.0 3.8 4.3
TV Set 6.4 8.2 7.2 7.2 7.5
Vacuum Cleaner 4.7 5.3 5.5 5.0 5.5
Range 2.6 3.2 2.8 2.7 3.0
Clothes dryer 2.6 3.7 2.9 3.5 3.9
Air conditioner 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.3
Carpet 4.0 5.2 6.1 4.3 5.3
Vacation Intended Within Six Months:
Percent
Vacation Intended 48.5 42.9
Destination
U.S. 39.4 36.5
Foreign country 10.1 8.5
Means of Travel
Automobile 25.5 22.9
Airplane 18.7 19.3
Other 5.2 3.1
Income
All series 2005
seasonally adjusted Apr.(r) May(p)
Composite Series: Index Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 97.5 102.2
Present Situation 113.8 116.7
Expectations 86.7 92.5
Appraisal of Present Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 26.4 26.5
Bad 17.6 16.8
Normal 56.0 56.7
Employment
Jobs plentiful 20.4 22.6
Jobs not so plentiful 56.7 53.2
Jobs hard to get 22.9 24.2
Expectations for Six Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 17.7 18.6
Worse 9.9 9.5
Same 72.4 71.9
Employment
More jobs 14.0 14.9
Fewer jobs 18.4 15.9
Same 67.6 69.2
Income
Increase 16.8 17.2
Decrease 9.7 8.6
Same 73.5 74.2
Plans to Buy Within Six Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 5.8 7.6
New 2.8 3.9
Used 2.4 2.7
Uncertain 0.6 1.0
Home
Yes 4.1 3.5
New 1.1 1.4
Lived in 1.5 1.3
Uncertain 1.5 0.8
Major appliances
Total plans 32.6 32.5
Refrigerator 4.7 5.3
Washing machine 3.7 3.8
TV Set 7.5 8.5
Vacuum Cleaner 5.9 6.3
Range 4.4 3.4
Clothes dryer 4.5 3.7
Air conditioner 1.9 1.5
Carpet 5.3 5.8
Vacation Intended Within Six Months:
Percent
Vacation Intended 42.3
Destination
U.S. 35.2
Foreign country 9.0
Means of Travel
Automobile 21.0
Airplane 21.1
Other 4.1
(p)--preliminary
(r)--revised
A monthly report from
The Consumer Research Center
Copyright [c] 2005
by The Conference Board, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISSN 1046-1876
The Conference Board, 845 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022-6679 / 212
759 0900
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The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered trademarks of
The Conference Board, Inc.
Inflation Interest Rates Stock Prices
Not Seasonally 2004
Adjusted May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Expectations for Twelve Months Hence: Percent
Inflation Rate
Average 5.2 5.1 4.4 4.5 4.5 5.0 4.8 4.7
Interest Rates
Higher 69.8 68.6 75.3 69.7 67.6 70.1 67.3 69.2
Same 22.3 23.5 19.3 22.9 26.0 23.4 26.6 24.2
Lower 7.9 7.9 5.4 7.4 6.4 6.5 6.1 6.6
Stock Prices
Increase 34.6 36.5 39.0 33.5 36.9 33.2 41.6 39.3
Same 40.4 40.4 41.3 41.8 41.7 41.8 40.2 40.7
Decrease 25.0 23.1 19.7 24.7 21.4 25.0 18.2 20.0
Not Seasonally 2005
Adjusted Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.(r) May(p)
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 18.6
Lower 5.6 6.2 7.6 7.3 5.3
Stock Prices
Increase 39.4 39.4 37.1 30.5 33.1
Same 41.3 41.2 41.3 40.6 40.3
Decrease 19.3 19.4 21.6 28.9 26.6
All series 2004
seasonally adjusted May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 99.2 113.5 112.1 114.6 109.3 105.9
35-54 94.8 102.4 103.8 95.3 97.9 96.8
55 and over 87.2 96.9 103.4 95.7 90.3 83.4
Household Income
Under $15,000 66.4 69.8 71.6 66.2 61.1 61.2
$15,000-24,999 68.3 90.9 89.0 83.6 78.1 73.1
$25,000-34,999 85.2 100.1 93.9 79.5 94.5 95.2
$35,000-49,999 90.7 104.3 101.7 104.9 97.7 89.5
$50,000 and over 111.4 116.6 125.2 116.6 113.6 108.2
All series 2004 2005
seasonally adjusted Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.(r)
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 95.8 114.0 116.5 107.7 108.5 114.3
35-54 89.0 99.3 103.2 104.2 100.8 97.0
55 and over 93.7 101.6 101.2 100.8 100.8 90.0
Household Income
Under $15,000 59.4 72.5 75.6 73.5 65.9 65.7
$15,000-24,999 73.1 79.6 88.5 84.7 94.8 79.2
$25,000-34,999 86.8 93.8 92.5 96.9 96.0 84.9
$35,000-49,999 91.0 107.5 104.7 106.0 96.8 96.4
$50,000 and over 110.5 119.6 122.5 121.9 120.1 114.9
3 mos.
All series 2005 Percent
seasonally adjusted May(p) Change *
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
Age of Household Head
Under 35 123.7 2.5
35-54 98.9 -3.2
55 and over 96.0 -5.5
Household Income
Under $15,000 81.7 -3.7
$15,000-24,999 84.1 2.1
$25,000-34,999 92.1 -3.6
$35,000-49,999 94.4 -9.6
$50,000 and over 119.8 -2.5
* 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: 2004
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Apr. May June July Aug.
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 81.2 81.8 100.1 101.4 82.3
Present Situation 74.8 79.8 101.0 102.9 95.5
Expectations 85.5 83.1 99.6 100.3 73.5
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 83.7 78.8 82.9 89.5 84.9
Present Situation 72.2 72.5 83.1 92.4 92.3
Expectations 91.4 82.9 82.8 87.5 80.0
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 75.3 79.3 79.8 87.4 82.2
Present Situation 56.6 68.9 82.6 79.7 73.6
Expectations 87.9 86.3 78.0 92.5 88.0
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 100.1 86.3 100.0 109.9 96.0
Present Situation 103.9 93.2 108.6 116.5 100.5
Expectations 97.6 81.8 94.3 105.6 92.9
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 103.0 109.4 118.8 117.5 104.1
Present Situation 114.5 121.5 134.7 127.5 116.6
Expectations 95.3 101.4 108.2 110.9 95.8
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 83.0 80.9 105.1 104.2 97.9
Present Situation 81.9 79.2 115.3 107.7 99.4
Expectations 83.8 82.1 98.3 101.8 96.9
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 103.4 92.9 109.3 104.6 106.4
Present Situation 95.7 89.7 110.3 110.4 104.8
Expectations 108.6 95.0 108.7 100.7 107.5
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 100.2 99.3 122.0 112.7 106.1
Present Situation 106.4 98.3 127.7 118.7 109.5
Expectations 96.1 100.0 118.2 108.7 103.9
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 93.3 96.1 103.3 111.4 104.4
Present Situation 77.9 82.5 103.6 109.0 107.7
Expectations 103.5 105.1 103.2 113.1 102.2
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: 2004 2005
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 77.1 87.7 88.5 102.4 98.9
Present Situation 83.3 91.4 99.5 109.7 101.9
Expectations 72.9 85.3 81.2 97.6 96.9
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 89.0 78.9 67.9 83.7 86.7
Present Situation 80.7 86.5 66.4 94.8 84.0
Expectations 94.6 73.9 69.0 76.3 88.5
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 77.4 78.0 80.7 80.0 87.0
Present Situation 69.1 80.5 77.2 67.6 79.7
Expectations 82.9 76.4 83.1 88.2 91.9
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 95.1 93.7 103.9 111.1 104.7
Present Situation 103.1 104.4 120.9 112.6 101.3
Expectations 89.8 86.6 92.6 110.2 107.0
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 110.8 113.4 112.2 118.2 114.5
Present Situation 122.1 120.4 129.3 135.8 132.0
Expectations 103.3 108.7 100.8 106.5 102.8
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 89.4 105.0 100.2 100.6 115.6
Present Situation 101.2 112.2 109.1 110.3 123.1
Expectations 81.6 100.2 94.2 94.2 110.7
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 107.8 106.3 107.7 107.8 125.7
Present Situation 103.2 108.8 115.8 121.0 128.8
Expectations 110.9 104.6 102.3 99.0 123.7
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 116.0 111.0 95.1 121.4 119.2
Present Situation 137.9 115.4 110.1 134.6 126.1
Expectations 101.5 108.1 85.1 112.6 114.5
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 106.3 102.2 98.2 102.9 110.6
Present Situation 105.7 101.9 96.8 109.2 108.8
Expectations 106.7 102.4 99.2 98.7 111.8
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: 2005
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Feb. Mar. Apr.(r) May(p)
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 109.7 104.2 74.4 92.4
Present Situation 129.3 117.6 90.2 110.3
Expectations 96.6 95.4 63.9 80.5
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 89.0 83.9 79.2 71.3
Present Situation 82.3 89.7 86.7 81.4
Expectations 93.4 80.0 74.3 64.6
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 84.0 83.6 71.6 74.3
Present Situation 78.0 74.7 69.5 76.6
Expectations 88.0 89.6 73.0 72.8
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 117.5 91.3 103.4 98.4
Present Situation 131.8 93.7 127.7 113.3
Expectations 107.9 89.8 87.2 88.4
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 120.7 121.7 109.0 119.7
Present Situation 138.0 142.6 134.2 142.0
Expectations 109.2 107.9 92.2 104.8
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 99.3 116.1 107.7 104.9
Present Situation 102.3 127.5 117.2 112.6
Expectations 97.3 108.4 101.3 99.7
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 115.5 113.4 113.6 112.2
Present Situation 112.1 127.8 127.3 129.0
Expectations 117.9 103.8 104.5 101.0
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 115.8 117.8 112.8 118.9
Present Situation 128.1 129.3 128.3 145.3
Expectations 107.7 110.1 102.5 101.3
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 102.9 106.1 101.6 105.9
Present Situation 106.7 116.1 118.5 119.6
Expectations 100.4 99.4 90.3 96.8
Seasonally unadjusted 3-MONTH AVG.
Index numbers: Mar.,Apr.,May Percent
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 2004 2005 Change
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 82.9 90.3 8.9
Present Situation 75.3 106.0 40.8
Expectations 88.0 79.9 -9.2
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 77.3 78.1 1.1
Present Situation 67.2 85.9 27.9
Expectations 84.0 72.9 -13.2
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 76.4 76.5 0.2
Present Situation 60.3 73.6 22.0
Expectations 87.1 78.5 -9.9
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 91.9 97.7 6.3
Present Situation 93.8 111.6 18.9
Expectations 90.7 88.5 -2.4
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 105.7 116.8 10.5
Present Situation 116.2 139.6 20.1
Expectations 98.7 101.6 3.0
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 82.9 109.5 32.2
Present Situation 78.6 119.1 51.5
Expectations 85.7 103.2 20.4
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 97.1 113.1 16.4
Present Situation 88.6 128.0 44.6
Expectations 102.8 103.1 0.3
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 99.3 116.5 17.3
Present Situation 98.9 134.3 35.9
Expectations 99.6 104.6 5.1
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 94.2 104.5 11.0
Present Situation 79.6 118.0 48.3
Expectations 103.9 95.5 -8.1
* 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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