U.S. Consumer Confidence Rebounds in December

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had decreased in November, rebounded in December.  The Index now stands at 78.1, up from 72.0 in November.  The Present Situation Index increased to 76.2 from 73.5.  The Expectations INdex increased to 79.4 from 71.1 last month.

"Consumer confidence rebounded in December and is now close to pre-government shutdown levels (September 2013, 80.2).  Sentiment regarding current conditions increased to a 5 1/2 year high (April 2008, 81.9), with consumers attributing the improvement to more favorable economic and labor market conditions.  Looking ahead, consumers expressed a greater degree of confidence in future economic and job prospects, but were moderately pessimistic about their earning prospects.  Despite the many challenges throughout 2013, consumers are in better spirits today than when the year began", says Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board.

Consumers' appraisal of overall current conditions improved.  Those claiming business conditions are "good" edged down to 19.6 percent from 20.4 percent.  Consumers' appraisal of the job market was also more upbeat.  Those saying jobs are "plentiful" ticked up to 12.2 percent from 12.0 percent, while those saying jobs are "hard to get" decreased to 32.5 percent from 34.1 percent.

Consumers' expectations, which had decreased in November, improved in December.  The percentage of consumers expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months increased to 17.2 percent from 16.7 percent, and those expecting business conditions to worsen decreased to 14.0 percent from 16.1 percent.

Consumers' outlook for the labor market was considerably more optimistic.  Those anticipating more jobs in the months ahead increased sharply to 17.1 percent from 13.1 percent, while those anticipating fewer jobs decreased to 19.0 percent from 21.4 percent.  The proportion of consumers expecting their incomes to increase declined to 13.9 percent from 15.3 percent, while those expecting a decrease in their incomes declined to 14.0 percent from 15.5 percent.

Source: December 2013 Consumer Confidence Survey, The Conference Board