Consumer Confidence Hits Highest Level Since Jan. 2008

[Purveyor]

Source: USA TODAY

Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY 11:02 a.m. EDT March 25, 2014

Consumer confidence jumped in March as people were more upbeat about future job prospects.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose to 82.3, up from 78.3 in February. It's the first reading above 82 since last June, and the highest reading since January 2008.

"Consumer confidence improved in March, as expectations for the short-term outlook bounced back from February's decline," said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board, a business membership and research association. "While consumers were moderately more upbeat about future job prospects and the overall economy, they were less optimistic about income growth.

"Overall, consumers expect the economy to continue improving and believe it may even pick up a little steam in the months ahead," Franco says.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/03/25/consumer-confidence-index-march/6831621/

[dotymed]

1. We have always been at war with Eurasia....

[pffshht]

2. That's out of 100? Seems ridiculously high.

Where can I get some of these awesome drugs these people are on?
Even given that 11% of Americans are taking prescription antidepressants, that figure is hard for me to believe.

Maybe it's the same ~80% who have religious faith?

I've never been more than 80% confident in my own future job prospects; and that high point was long ago upon getting into the college I wanted to. These days, I think my chances of ever being hired again are <10%, of finding a stable, well-paying job in my career of choice are <1% , and my chances of long term success as self-employed (the basket in which I have currently placed all my eggs) are maybe 10-20%. I can't even really imagine how it would feel if I was able to believe in a better-than-even-odds chance that it would all work out OK.

[happyslug]

6. No 100 is considered the point where confidence is equal

i.e. at 100, consumer have an equal fear of the economy doing good or bad. Below 100, the economy is looking to consumers being bad.

This "good new" is like saying: Three Cheers for we are only sinking at 1 inch per hour as opposed to 10 inches per hour. YEA YEA YEA.

Or if you want to use the confidence numbers, THREE CHEERS we are only 15 points BELOW where we should be if the economy is to improve, not 20 points like we were last month YEA YEA YEA.

[elleng]

3. Foolishly thinking spring will arrive . . .

[eppur_se_muova]

4. So ? What's the job seeker confidence level ? nt

[happyslug]

7. With the Consumer Confidence number at 85, terrible

Remember 100 is the point where confidence of the economy going up or down is equal. Anything below 100 is BAD.

[happyslug]

5. 100 = 1985, which was picked for it was NOT a peak NOR a bottom in economics activity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_confidence_index

Thus an 82.3 is BAD, anything below 100 shows a lack of confidence by consumers. Anything over 100 shows consumers are confident that the economy is doing good.