When analysts want to know how Americans are feeling about the economy, they look to consumer surveys from The Conference Board and the University of Michigan. But they each paint a slightly different picture of people under age 35.

Political partisanship has become so persistent in sentiment surveys that some economists say it’s getting harder to accurately measure moods of consumers.

Awaiting new data on consumer sentiment and retail sales this week, analysts say people seem to be concerned about job availability, high prices, and their ability to keep up with monthly bills.

The top third of stock owners are more optimistic. Everyone else is a lot more pessimestic.

We’ve been without most government labor-market data for about a month.

The last few inflation reports from the Labor Department point to inflation sticking around.

Wealthier Americans are driving much of the growth in spending, while lower-income consumers are falling further behind.

Consumers are shopping for bargains at summer sales and small luxuries but spending less at restaurants.

Survey data from The Conference Board shows Americans are feeling better about the economy than they were earlier in the year, but concerns about the job market linger.

But their outlook just might be improving.