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Consumer sentiment

Is economic uncertainty a feeling ... or a fact?

by Kristin Schwab
Jan 9, 2025
Turns out it's a bit of both — and measurable.
One way to measure economic uncertainty? The Economic Policy Uncertainty Index, which uses keyword mentions in news outlets as a proxy for uncertainty.
Douglas Rissing/Getty Images
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Here's why consumer confidence dipped in December

by Caleigh Wells
Dec 23, 2024
Confidence was expected to continue to rise. Consumers cite inflation, politics and tariffs as factors they see influencing the economy.
Inflation beat out politics on the list of economic influencers in The Conference Board's December survey. Tariffs are one thing consumers are newly worried about.
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Election 2024

Despite their feelings about the economy, consumers keep on spending

by Mitchell Hartman
Oct 17, 2024
September retail sales excluding vehicles and gasoline were up 0.7%. But consumers report uncertainty about the election and how it will impact the economy.
There is a big contradiction in this continued retail spending rally.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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Growth in holiday spending to ease this year, Deloitte predicts

by Samantha Fields
Sep 16, 2024
Spending jumped 15% in 2021 and more than 7% in 2022, but analysts expect "normal" growth of 2.3% to 3.3% for the season in 2024.
Though the labor market is solid, credit card debt is up and the savings rate is down — all of which may impact holiday shopping.
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With consumers in a better mood, is the "vibecession" turning a corner?

by Matt Levin
Sep 2, 2024
For the first time in five months, consumer sentiment rose in August, thanks largely to high-income people, University of Michigan data shows.
Consumer sentiment improved last month, driven largely by higher-earning Americans who can comfortably absorb price increases, said Joanne Hsu at the University of Michigan.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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Small businesses are just as grumpy about the economy as consumers

by Kristin Schwab
Aug 13, 2024
Optimism has increased, but it's still below a 50-year average, a National Federation of Independent Business survey shows.
For a lot of business owners, this high inflation is stressful to navigate, says Holly Wade of the NFIB.
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Election 2024

How do you feel about the economy? Your answer might depend on your party

by Mitchell Hartman
Jul 12, 2024
There's a persistent partisan gap in consumer sentiment polling.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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A closer look at wage measures hints at why consumers still feel gloomy

by Meghan McCarty Carino
Jul 4, 2024
Average wage growth has slowed in recent months, though according to the May jobs report, it’s still ahead of inflation.
"While wages have grown across the board, we've actually had the strongest wage growth among the lowest earners," says Valerie Wilson at the Economic Policy Institute.
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Economic data is looking good. So why the glum vibes?

by Stacey Vanek Smith
Jun 25, 2024
Unemployment is near record lows, GDP is growing, inflation has been trending down, wages are up. But in spite of it all, people are feeling bad.
One reason for all the economic angst? A very positive reference point from earlier in the pandemic might make some consumers feel like nothing will compare.
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Why isn't the cost of borrowing money included in the consumer price index?

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer
May 15, 2024
Loans are a big cost, but they would muddle the data in the CPI. Fed rate hikes would essentially create inflation, despite their intention.
Borrowing is a major expense for many Americans. One example is the interest on car loans.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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