Consumer confidence up moderately.May 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 improved sharply in April, posted a moderate increase in May. The Index now stands at 83.8 (1985=100), up from 81.0 in April. The Expectations Index rose to 94.4 from 84.8. The Present Situation Index, however, fell to 67.9 from 75.2. 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 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 WorldGroup, a member of The Interpublic Group of Companies This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : IPG IPG Implantable pulse generator, see there ). The cutoff date for May's preliminary results was the 20th. Consumers' assessment of current conditions was less favorable fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. than last month. Respondents In the context of marketing research, a representative sample drawn from a larger population of people from whom information is collected and used to develop or confirm marketing strategy. rating present business conditions as "bad" rose to 28.4 percent from 23.9 percent, while those holding the opposite view rose remained virtually unchanged at 16.1 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 also deteriorated. Consumers reporting jobs are hard to get jumped to 32.6 percent from 29.4 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. slipped to 12.6 percent from 13.0 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. expectations posted another significant improvement. Respondents anticipating an improvement in business conditions over the next several months rose to 22.8 percent from 18.9 percent. Consumers anticipating 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 fell to 9.7 percent from 12.3 percent. The employment outlook was also more favorable. Respondents anticipating more jobs to become available increased to 17.8 percent from 16.4 percent, while those expecting fewer jobs fell to 17.6 percent from 20.9 percent. The proportion of consumers anticipating an increase in their income edged down to 17.0 percent from 17.2 percent. The post-war euphoria An interpreted programming language developed in 1993 by Robert Craig at Rapid Deployment Software that is noted for its execution speed, flexibility and simplicity. It can simulate any programming method including object-oriented constructs. experienced last month has quickly given way and consumers' focus has returned to matters on the home front. Labor market conditions continue to be of concern, but consumers anticipate a turnaround Turnaround A situation where a company that has had poor performance for an extended period of time experiences a positive reversal. Notes: A speculator may profit from a turnaround if he or she accurately anticipates the improvement of a poorly performing company. in the coming months. While the overall Index improved moderately, the decline in the Present Situation Index suggests consumers will continue spending at current levels. [GRAPH graph, figure that shows relationships between quantities. The graph of a function y=f (x) is the set of points with coordinates [x, f (x)] in the xy-plane, when x and y are numbers. OMITTED] [GRAPH OMITTED]
Consumer Confidence +2.8 83.8
Present Situation -7.3 67.9
Expectations +9.6 94.4
Consumer Confidence and Buying Plans
Based on surveys conducted by NFO Research, Inc.
Percentage of households = 100%
All series seasonally adjusted
Business
Employment
Income
2002
May June July Aug.
Composite Series: Index
Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 110.3 106.3 97.4 94.5
Present Situation 111.2 104.9 99.4 93.1
Expectations 109.7 107.2 96.1 95.5
Appraisal of Present
Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 21.2 19.9 20.2 16.7
Bad 18.5 19.5 22.1 21.8
Normal 60.3 60.6 57.7 61.5
Employment
Jobs plentiful 21.2 20.1 18.8 17.4
Jobs not so plentiful 57.0 56.7 57.3 58.8
Jobs hard to get 21.8 23.2 23.9 23.8
Expectations for Six
Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 24.9 23.7 20.8 22.2
Worse 6.8 7.1 9.2 10.0
Same 68.3 69.2 70.0 67.8
Employment
More jobs 21.2 20.4 17.3 17.4
Fewer jobs 13.6 14.3 17.0 17.8
Same 65.2 65.3 65.7 64.8
Income
Increase 21.1 20.9 20.1 22.1
Decrease 7.8 8.0 9.6 10.1
Same 71.1 71.1 70.3 67.8
Plans to Buy Within Six
Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 7.9 7.8 8.3 7.4
New 3.8 3.9 3.3 4.1
Used 2.7 3.0 3.8 2.3
Uncertain 1.4 0.9 1.2 1.0
Home
Yes 3.6 3.4 3.8 4.5
New 1.1 0.8 0.9 1.7
Lived in 1.5 1.5 1.9 1.9
Uncertain 1.0 1.1 1.0 0.9
Major appliances
Total plans 27.6 29.6 28.0 31.3
Refrigerator 4.7 4.4 3.7 4.8
Washing machine 3.3 3.8 3.4 3.7
TV Set 6.6 7.7 7.4 7.3
Vacuum Cleaner 4.7 4.8 4.3 5.8
Range 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.3
Clothes dryer 3.0 3.8 3.0 3.4
Air conditioner 2.2 2.0 2.9 3.0
Carpet 5.7 5.8 5.5 5.2
Vacation Intended Within
Six Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 44.5 42.2
Destination
U.S. 38.7 35.2
Foreign country 7.3 9.2
Means of Travel
Automobile 24.9 22.4
Airplane 19.6 17.7
Other 3.4 4.0
2002
Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Composite Series: Index
Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 93.7 79.6 84.9 80.7
Present Situation 88.5 77.2 78.3 69.6
Expectations 97.2 81.1 89.3 88.1
Appraisal of Present
Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 18.5 15.6 16.1 14.5
Bad 23.8 27.7 25.7 25.9
Normal 57.7 56.7 58.2 59.6
Employment
Jobs plentiful 15.9 14.7 14.2 12.3
Jobs not so plentiful 58.7 58.0 58.5 58.0
Jobs hard to get 25.4 27.3 27.3 29.7
Expectations for Six
Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 21.6 19.3 20.3 21.1
Worse 9.7 14.3 11.3 11.0
Same 68.7 66.4 68.4 67.9
Employment
More jobs 17.3 15.3 15.4 15.4
Fewer jobs 16.8 22.1 18.8 20.2
Same 65.9 62.6 65.8 64.4
Income
Increase 21.5 17.9 19.4 19.6
Decrease 8.9 11.3 9.9 10.7
Same 69.6 70.8 70.7 69.7
Plans to Buy Within Six
Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 7.2 6.9 6.8 7.7
New 2.7 3.1 2.8 3.3
Used 3.0 2.8 2.4 3.4
Uncertain 1.5 1.0 1.6 1.0
Home
Yes 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.2
New 0.9 0.8 0.8 1.0
Lived in 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4
Uncertain 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.8
Major appliances
Total plans 26.2 28.3 28.6 28.4
Refrigerator 4.2 4.4 3.9 4.5
Washing machine 3.5 4.0 3.4 3.5
TV Set 6.6 7.5 6.7 7.5
Vacuum Cleaner 3.8 4.3 5.4 4.8
Range 2.7 2.9 3.0 3.0
Clothes dryer 2.9 3.2 3.4 3.4
Air conditioner 2.5 2.0 2.8 1.7
Carpet 5.7 5.3 5.2 5.2
Vacation Intended Within
Six Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 47.3 43.3
Destination
U.S. 40.1 34.7
Foreign country 8.0 9.1
Means of Travel
Automobile 26.1 23.7
Airplane 17.8 16.0
Other 3.4 4.3
2003
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.(r)
Composite Series: Index
Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 78.8 64.8 61.4 81.0
Present Situation 75.3 63.5 61.4 75.2
Expectations 81.1 65.7 61.4 84.8
Appraisal of Present
Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 15.0 13.6 13.6 16.2
Bad 26.7 29.6 30.0 23.9
Normal 58.3 56.8 56.4 59.9
Employment
Jobs plentiful 14.5 11.4 11.4 13.0
Jobs not so plentiful 56.6 58.6 56.3 57.6
Jobs hard to get 28.9 30.0 32.3 29.4
Expectations for Six
Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 17.7 14.9 13.0 18.9
Worse 14.0 19.1 20.0 12.3
Same 68.3 66.0 67.0 68.8
Employment
More jobs 14.2 12.4 10.8 16.4
Fewer jobs 21.2 28.5 26.5 20.9
Same 64.6 59.1 62.7 62.7
Income
Increase 18.4 16.0 15.8 17.2
Decrease 10.2 12.2 13.4 10.7
Same 71.4 71.8 70.8 72.1
Plans to Buy Within Six
Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 6.8 6.9 6.6 6.0
New 3.0 2.8 3.0 2.8
Used 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.1
Uncertain 0.8 1.1 0.8 1.1
Home
Yes 3.6 3.8 3.2 3.4
New 1.2 1.0 0.9 1.3
Lived in 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.4
Uncertain 0.7 1.1 1.0 0.7
Major appliances
Total plans 28.2 27.5 28.2 29.7
Refrigerator 5.8 4.1 5.3 4.7
Washing machine 3.4 3.9 3.0 3.7
TV Set 6.3 6.1 6.7 7.0
Vacuum Cleaner 4.3 5.3 5.1 4.9
Range 3.3 2.7 3.1 3.1
Clothes dryer 3.1 3.5 3.2 4.1
Air conditioner 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.2
Carpet 5.6 5.0 6.1 5.6
Vacation Intended Within
Six Months: Percent
Vacation Intended 42.7 42.4
Destination
U.S. 35.5 37.0
Foreign country 8.7 7.1
Means of Travel
Automobile 23.8 24.7
Airplane 17.5 17.3
Other 3.6 3.3
2003
May(p)
Composite Series: Index
Numbers, 1985=100
Consumer Confidence Index 83.8
Present Situation 67.9
Expectations 94.4
Appraisal of Present
Situation: Percent
Business Conditions
Good 16.1
Bad 28.4
Normal 55.5
Employment
Jobs plentiful 12.6
Jobs not so plentiful 54.8
Jobs hard to get 32.6
Expectations for Six
Months Hence: Percent
Business Conditions
Better 22.8
Worse 9.7
Same 67.5
Employment
More jobs 17.8
Fewer jobs 17.6
Same 64.6
Income
Increase 17.0
Decrease 9.8
Same 73.2
Plans to Buy Within Six
Months: Percent
Automobile
Yes 7.6
New 3.7
Used 2.5
Uncertain 1.4
Home
Yes 3.6
New 1.1
Lived in 1.5
Uncertain 1.0
Major appliances
Total plans 31.0
Refrigerator 5.7
Washing machine 3.8
TV Set 7.1
Vacuum Cleaner 5.1
Range 3.8
Clothes dryer 3.6
Air conditioner 1.9
Carpet 5.5
Vacation Intended Within
Six Months: Percent
Vacation Intended
Destination
U.S.
Foreign country
Means of Travel
Automobile
Airplane
Other
(p) - preliminary
(r) - revised
Inflation
Interest Rates
Stock Prices
Expectations for Twelve Months Hence: Percent
Not Seasonally 2002
Adjusted May June July Aug. Sept.
Inflation Rate
Average 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.2
Interest Rates
Higher 54.6 51.4 45.3 43.8 43.1
Same 34.6 35.6 39.3 36.5 39.4
Lower 10.8 13.0 15.4 19.7 17.5
Stock Prices
Increase 37.1 32.4 26.5 33.9 32.9
Same 40.3 38.6 35.4 30.0 34.8
Decrease 22.6 29.0 38.1 36.1 32.3
Not Seasonally 2002 2003
Adjusted Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
Inflation Rate
Average 4.4 4.1 4.4 4.4 4.8
Interest Rates
Higher 41.8 42.1 43.5 43.7 41.7
Same 38.9 35.8 38.9 39.9 38.4
Lower 19.3 22.1 17.6 16.4 19.9
Stock Prices
Increase 29.1 34.4 33.3 31.3 25.2
Same 31.3 35.3 34.9 34.6 32.6
Decrease 39.6 30.3 31.8 34.1 42.2
Not Seasonally 2003
Adjusted Mar. Apr(r) May(p)
Inflation Rate
Average 5.0 4.5 4.1
Interest Rates
Higher 39.9 45.4 44.5
Same 38.0 35.9 40.8
Lower 22.1 18.7 14.7
Stock Prices
Increase 22.9 35.1 36.4
Same 30.5 32.7 38.6
Decrease 46.6 32.2 25.0
(p) - preliminary
(r) - revised
Consumer Confidence Index, 1985 = 100
2002
All series seasonally May June July Aug. Sept.
adjusted
Age of Household Head
Under 35 112.9 116.6 108.8 100.8 106.2
35-54 110.5 104.6 98.0 97.7 93.2
55 and over 106.6 101.9 90.1 86.6 86.6
Household Income
Under $15,000 74.8 77.3 71.8 64.6 69.0
$15,000-24,999 89.6 95.7 77.3 70.0 68.1
$25,000-34,999 108.1 102.7 85.6 94.8 93.9
$35,000-49,999 111.2 105.7 106.9 101.6 94.5
$50,000 and over 127.8 118.4 111.3 110.1 108.7
2002 2003
All series seasonally Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
adjusted
Age of Household Head
Under 35 92.5 90.5 98.3 89.5 78.5
35-54 78.1 85.2 80.1 81.3 65.1
55 and over 75.0 80.8 73.9 70.7 57.2
Household Income
Under $15,000 62.6 65.1 58.7 57.9 45.4
$15,000-24,999 69.0 72.3 62.1 60.8 57.7
$25,000-34,999 73.1 77.9 79.6 68.2 66.1
$35,000-49,999 81.4 87.3 85.2 83.4 60.9
$50,000 and over 89.8 96.1 93.2 92.0 74.7
3 mos.
2003 Percnet
All series seasonally Mar. Apr.(r) May (p) Change *
adjusted
Age of Household Head
Under 35 68.6 89.7 91.2 -6.3
35-54 62.0 80.3 86.2 0.9
55 and over 55.9 75.6 75.7 2.6
Household Income
Under $15,000 41.9 61.2 69.8 6.8
$15,000-24,999 52.5 68.0 69.6 5.2
$25,000-34,999 55.8 81.8 84.7 3.9
$35,000-49,999 65.0 78.2 81.4 -2.1
$50,000 and over 71.5 91.3 92.8 -1.7
(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.
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: 2002
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Apr. May June July
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 106.7 107.3 104.8 92.4
Present Situation 115.5 119.2 110.7 96.3
Expectations 100.8 99.4 100.9 89.9
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 92.3 95.9 84.2 84.8
Present Situation 83.1 90.2 80.0 83.4
Expectations 98.4 99.7 86.9 85.7
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 102.8 107.4 97.5 86.5
Present Situation 91.3 108.5 95.3 84.6
Expectations 110.5 106.6 98.9 87.8
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 103.0 95.6 101.5 93.2
Present Situation 104.4 109.4 119.9 100.7
Expectations 102.1 86.4 89.2 88.2
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 117.2 115.3 119.7 110.2
Present Situation 120.9 121.6 130.0 122.2
Expectations 114.7 111.0 112.9 102.2
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 95.4 95.1 103.7 86.5
Present Situation 91.0 92.7 97.6 90.3
Expectations 98.4 96.6 107.8 84.0
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 122.9 108.6 109.8 102.2
Present Situation 125.1 112.6 109.8 112.1
Expectations 121.5 105.9 109.9 95.6
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 114.5 124.5 113.0 95.7
Present Situation 102.9 124.2 116.6 97.0
Expectations 122.2 124.7 110.6 94.8
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 105.0 113.5 105.4 93.8
Present Situation 95.7 102.5 91.7 91.0
Expectations 111.2 120.9 114.5 95.7
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: 2002
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 90.5 89.2 74.2 82.5
Present Situation 113.7 94.3 70.8 79.9
Expectations 75.1 85.8 76.5 84.3
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 80.9 90.2 68.2 74.9
Present Situation 73.5 84.8 66.7 67.1
Expectations 85.8 93.8 69.2 80.2
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 86.7 89.9 83.3 88.0
Present Situation 79.0 88.0 85.6 84.5
Expectations 91.9 91.1 81.8 90.3
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 85.3 95.2 85.3 85.8
Present Situation 86.2 110.7 98.1 93.3
Expectations 84.7 85.0 76.8 80.8
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 101.1 101.3 90.4 97.6
Present Situation 110.1 100.5 101.1 98.1
Expectations 95.1 101.9 83.3 97.2
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 90.4 99.9 90.3 83.1
Present Situation 88.1 99.4 95.3 77.2
Expectations 92.0 100.2 87.0 87.0
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 100.2 95.9 83.7 91.4
Present Situation 103.2 90.4 81.7 91.5
Expectations 98.2 99.6 85.0 91.4
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 93.5 102.2 85.7 94.2
Present Situation 88.8 102.8 72.5 89.7
Expectations 96.6 101.8 94.5 97.2
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 94.5 91.3 88.5 82.1
Present Situation 89.3 83.1 80.0 63.9
Expectations 97.9 96.9 94.2 94.2
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: 2002 2003
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 62.2 74.4 62.8 57.6
Present Situation 66.0 63.9 44.5 38.0
Expectations 59.6 81.5 75.1 70.8
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 70.1 65.4 57.3 54.7
Present Situation 58.7 53.8 43.2 52.5
Expectations 77.7 73.1 66.8 56.2
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 76.9 79.3 58.2 58.5
Present Situation 59.6 67.5 46.5 52.2
Expectations 88.5 87.2 66.0 62.7
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 70.5 77.5 65.2 60.2
Present Situation 75.2 76.1 60.9 56.2
Expectations 67.3 78.4 68.0 63.0
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 91.1 87.2 78.9 70.8
Present Situation 91.2 88.2 81.6 74.1
Expectations 91.1 86.6 77.1 68.6
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 79.2 76.2 60.7 59.7
Present Situation 84.6 70.3 56.5 56.0
Expectations 75.6 80.1 63.4 62.2
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 87.0 94.3 75.1 62.3
Present Situation 79.3 89.4 68.7 53.3
Expectations 92.1 97.6 79.4 68.3
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 88.1 97.6 68.8 59.9
Present Situation 81.3 94.8 62.5 49.2
Expectations 92.6 99.5 73.1 67.1
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 75.5 69.7 63.3 63.0
Present Situation 56.2 54.6 51.3 57.9
Expectations 88.5 79.8 71.2 66.4
Seasonally unadjusted 3-MONTH AVG.
Index numbers: 2003 Mar., Apr., May
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Apr.(r) May(p) 2002 2003
New England
Consumer Confidence Index 66.4 85.3 105.3 69.8
Present Situation 52.0 68.6 110.1 52.8
Expectations 76.0 96.5 102.1 81.1
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 68.4 69.6 94.4 64.3
Present Situation 58.2 51.7 86.4 54.1
Expectations 75.2 81.6 99.8 71.0
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 73.4 69.6 104.8 67.2
Present Situation 60.9 51.7 98.5 54.9
Expectations 81.8 81.6 108.9 75.4
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index 63.6 85.7 101.2 69.8
Present Situation 59.2 82.4 105.4 65.9
Expectations 66.6 87.9 98.4 72.5
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index 93.4 88.8 117.7 84.3
Present Situation 96.7 82.4 121.1 84.4
Expectations 91.2 93.1 115.5 84.3
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 79.4 84.8 99.8 74.7
Present Situation 79.7 70.1 95.4 68.6
Expectations 79.3 94.6 102.7 78.7
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index 92.7 101.2 116.6 85.4
Present Situation 91.8 95.0 119.2 80.0
Expectations 93.3 105.4 114.9 89.0
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index 94.9 84.3 119.0 79.7
Present Situation 80.3 64.0 116.9 64.5
Expectations 104.6 97.8 120.5 89.8
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index 75.9 78.7 111.0 72.5
Present Situation 57.5 46.2 100.5 53.9
Expectations 88.1 100.3 118.0 84.9
Seasonally unadjusted
Index numbers: Percent
U.S. Average, 1985 = 100 Change *
New England
Consumer Confidence Index -33.7
Present Situation -52.0
Expectations -20.6
Middle Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index -31.9
Present Situation -37.4
Expectations -28.8
East North Central
Consumer Confidence Index -35.9
Present Situation -44.2
Expectations -30.8
West North Central
Consumer Confidence Index -31.0
Present Situation -37.5
Expectations -26.3
South Atlantic
Consumer Confidence Index -28.4
Present Situation -30.3
Expectations -27.0
East South Central
Consumer Confidence Index -25.2
Present Situation -28.1
Expectations -23.3
West South Central
Consumer Confidence Index -26.8
Present Situation -32.9
Expectations -22.6
Mountain
Consumer Confidence Index -33.1
Present Situation -44.8
Expectations -25.4
Pacific
Consumer Confidence Index -34.7
Present Situation -46.4
Expectations -28.0
(p) - preliminary
(r) - revised
* 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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