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Why do we measure consumers' feelings?

Feb 26, 2024
Consumer sentiment and confidence indexes are used in forecasting, which influences planning and investment. But feelings can be tricky.
Sentiment and confidence, says professor Sasha Indarte, are "related to people's behavior and decisions." That influences what companies and government plan for and invest in.
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Consumers believe we'll see lower inflation and a strong job market later this year

Mar 31, 2023
But they plan to pull back on discretionary spending.
Consumers are increasingly pessimistic about the economy, according to the latest consumer confidence data.
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Some consumers more upbeat as inflation moderates

Jan 30, 2023
The University of Michigan's sentiment survey rose 9% in January, though it's still near decade-lows.
Consumer sentiment registered an uptick in the University of Michigan's latest survey, but buyers remain wary about the economy as a whole.
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Why gas prices loom so large in the way we think about the economy

Apr 14, 2022
They helped push up retail sales in March, but they're already coming back down.
The biggest increases in spending last month were on food and beverages, and, of course, at gas stations, according to Commerce Department Data.
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