Consumer Hope for Future Hits Lowest Level Since 1980

Consumer sentiment inched up in early September, but Americans remained gloomy about the future with a gauge of expectations falling to the lowest level since 1980, a survey released Friday showed.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment edged up to 57.8 from 55.7 the month before, which had been the lowest level since November 2008. It topped the median forecast of 56.5 among economists polled by Reuters.

"Overall, the data indicate that a renewed downturn in consumer spending is as likely as not in the year ahead," survey director Richard Curtin said in a statement.

"Even without a downturn, consumer spending will not be strong enough to enable the rapid job growth that is needed to offset reduced long-term expectations."

The gauge of consumer expectations dipped to 47.0 from 47.4. It was the lowest level since May 1980. The economic outlook for the next 12 months fell to 38 from 40, the lowest since February 2009 when the world economy was gripped by the credit crisis.

Read More

Share on: Facebook del.icio.us Digg StumbleUpon Twitter

Contributors

The Chicago Way, Cont'd by Angus Dubois Posted: 05/19/2013 12:24:00

Thatcherism – It’s all about leadership, Margaret Thatcher-style by Laurie Brunner Posted: 05/17/2013 08:09:00

Do You Know What Bad Profits Are? by Ted Pryor Posted: 05/09/2013 02:52:00