Sign In
Free Newsletter
Consumer confidence edges up in May on improving job market
WASHINGTON — Consumer confidence rebounded slightly this month as the job market showed signs of improvement. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose to 95.4 in May from 94.3 in April. Last month’s reading had been sharp drop from March’s 101.4. A year ago, the index stood at 82.2. Consumers’ assessment of current economic conditions […]
Consumer confidence jumps to 7-month high
NEW YORK — Americans’ confidence in the economy jumped this month to the highest level since February, bolstered by a brighter outlook for overall business conditions and hiring. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose to 70.3. That’s up from 61.3 in August, which was revised higher. And it’s the highest […]
Americans’ confidence falls off in August
NEW YORK — Americans are feeling worse about the economy than they have in a long time — a fact that could have wide-reaching implications everywhere from Wal-Mart to the White House. Despite improving U.S. job and housing markets, consumer confidence fell to the lowest level it’s been since November 2011, according to The Conference […]
Time to see if central bankers ready to act
WASHINGTON — The world’s top central bankers have said they’re willing to rescue the economies of Europe and the United States. This week we’ll find out if they are ready to act. The Federal Reserve wraps up its two-day policy meeting Wednesday. Chairman Ben Bernanke has pledged to act if unemployment stays high. The European […]
Consumer confidence slipped in June
NEW YORK — Americans can’t seem to shake their uneasy feeling about the economy. Consumer confidence fell in June for the fourth straight month as worries about the economy outweighed relief at the gas pump, according to a private research group. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index is at 62. That’s […]
Consumer confidence in the economy plunged in May
NEW YORK — Americans grew much gloomier about the economy in May, causing a critical measure of consumer confidence to suffer its biggest decline in eight months and ending a period of steady optimism. Worries about jobs, housing and the stock market rattled consumers, even though gas prices are falling. The latest figures suggest Americans […]
Realities of Real Estate: Trying to find the future in the numbers
Every so often we look at the overall performance of the real estate markets, and based on what the numbers tell us, try to glean a glimpse of what the future might hold. As with many things, the beginning of a new year is an appropriate time to get some fresh perspective. In evaluating the […]
Realities of Real Estate: The health of the market; looking back and going forward
Every so often we look at the overall performance of the real estate markets, and based on what the numbers tell us, try to glean a glimpse of what the future might hold. As with many things, the beginning of a new year is an appropriate time to get some fresh perspective. In evaluating the […]
Consumer confidence falls in January
NEW YORK — It looks like Americans are starting to doubt that the economy in 2012 will be that much better than it was last year. Consumer confidence fell in January after two straight months of big gains as Americans became more worried about their incomes, rising gas prices and overall business conditions, a private […]
Consumer confidence index surges in December
Americans are gaining faith that the economy is on the upswing. An improving job outlook helped the Consumer Confidence Index soar to the highest level since April and near a post-recession peak, according to a monthly survey by The Conference Board. The second straight monthly surge coincided with a decent holiday shopping season for retailers, […]
Consumer confidence at lowest since recession
NEW YORK — Americans say they feel worse about the economy than they have since the depths of the Great Recession. Consumer confidence fell in October to the lowest since March 2009, a research group said Tuesday — an ominous sign for the economy as families begin to prepare their budgets for holiday shopping season. […]
Bernanke says economic recovery close to faltering
WASHINGTON — Europe has a debt crisis. America has a jobs crisis. Corporate profits could be in trouble. World financial markets are in turmoil. And no one seems prepared to ride to the rescue. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke bluntly warned Congress on Tuesday of what most of America has sensed for some time: The […]
