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2009 Economic Calendar |
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Resource Center » U.S. & Intl Recaps | Release Dates | Event Definitions | Today's Calendar
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The Conference Board compiles a survey of consumer attitudes on present economic conditions and expectations of future conditions. Five thousand consumers across the country are surveyed each month. While the level of consumer confidence is associated with consumer spending, the two do not move in tandem each and every month. Why Investors Care
| Released on 1/30/07 For Jan 2007 | ||||||||||||
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Highlights
Readings on consumer confidence are improving, headed Tuesday by the Conference Board's monthly consumer sentiment report that showed a 3 tenth gain in the overall index to 110.3. There was sharp improvement in employment readings with the jobs-hard-to-get category dipping 1.6 percentage points to 19.7 percent and the jobs-plentiful category up 2.3 percentage points to 29.9. Inflation expectations even edged down 1 tenth to a moderate 4.7 percent reading. A small negative in the report was a dip back in the expectations reading, which may point to less strength in future reports.
Financial markets didn't show much reaction to the data, at least initially. But solid confidence and better confidence in the jobs market may increase growth estimates and further push back a Federal Reserve rate cut.
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index is finally responding to improvements in the economy. The Conference Board's index rose to 109.0 in December from 105.3 in November and is even up notably from 103.8 in December last year. Importantly, confidence in both the present situation and in the future outlook both showed gains, indicating that the consumer will continue to be willing to spend and contribute to economic growth. But 12-month inflation expectations rose to 4.8 percent from 4.6 percent. The Fed certainly will be watching for the inflation-expectation numbers as the FOMC's two-day meeting starts the same day the Conference Board's report is released.
Consumer confidence Consensus Forecast for January 06: 110.0
Range: 107.5 to 111.0
![[Chart]](chart.gif)
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Typically retail sales will move in tandem with consumer optimism - although not necessarily each and every month. |
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