Business News :Consumer Confidence Dipped Again in Early May

Consumer Confidence Dipped Again in Early May ( USA)

SportsOneSource Media     Posted: 5/29/2012

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined slightly in April, fell further in May. The Index now stands at 64.9 (1985=100), down from 68.7 in April. The Expectations Index declined to 77.6 from 80.4, while the Present Situation Index decreased to 45.9 from 51.2 last month.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a probability-design random sample.  The cutoff date for the preliminary results was May 16.

"Consumer Confidence fell in May, following a slight decline in April. Consumers were less positive about current business and labor market conditions, and they were more pessimistic about the short-term outlook," said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board: "However, consumers were more upbeat about their income prospects, which should help sustain spending. Taken together, the retreat in the Present Situation Index and softening in consumer expectations suggest that the pace of economic growth in the months ahead may moderate."

Consumers' appraisal of present-day conditions deteriorated in May. Those claiming business conditions are "bad" increased to 34.3 percent from 33.2 percent, while those saying business conditions are "good" decreased to 13.6 percent from 15.5 percent. Consumers' appraisal of the job market was also less favorable. Those claiming jobs are "hard to get" increased to 41.0 percent from 38.1 percent, while those stating jobs are "plentiful" decreased to 7.9 percent from 8.4 percent.
Consumers have also grown less upbeat about the short-term outlook. Those expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months decreased to 16.6 percent from 18.5 percent. However, those anticipating business conditions will worsen decreased to 13.1 percent from 14.2 percent.

Consumers' outlook for the labor market was also less positive. Those expecting more jobs in the months ahead decreased to 15.8 percent from 16.9 percent, while those anticipating fewer jobs increased to 21.0 percent from 18.4 percent. The proportion of consumers expecting an increase in their incomes improved to 15.2 percent from 13.9 percent.

( La confiance des consommateurs a plongé à nouveau au début mai (Etats-Unis) / 消费者信心指数再次下滑，在5月初（美国）/ Consumer Confidence Eingetaucht erneut Anfang Mai (USA) / 消費者信頼感は5月上旬（米国）に再び浸せき / Confianza del consumidor bajó de nuevo a principios de mayo (EE.UU.) / Индекс потребительского доверия Фары Опять же в начале мая (США) / Fiducia dei consumatori Immerso Sempre ai primi di maggio (USA) / उपभोक्ता विश्वास जल्दी मई (यूएसए) में फिर रह गई )