Consumers

Gallup Economic Weekly: Spending Up Pre-Black Friday

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Although Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index last week was down slightly from the prior week and from October, consumer spending was up 11% for the week and is at its smallest year-to-year difference (down 7%) of 2009 from the same week a year ago -- providing some added hope for retailers this Black Friday.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Waiting for Holiday Cheer

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

There appears to be little holiday cheer on Main Street, according to Gallup’s key economic indicators, as consumer spending was down 23% last week from the same week last year. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index and Job Creation Index remained essentially unchanged from the previous week.

Christmas Spending Forecast Reverts to Record 2008 Lows

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Americans’ estimate of the total amount they will spend on Christmas gifts this year is now $638, essentially matching the record lows from November and December 2008. Fewer Americans say they will be spending less on gifts this year than said this a year ago, while most say they will spend the same amount.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Confidence Slips So Far in Nov.

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index fell to a 15-week low as a 26-year high in the unemployment rate and a new 2009 high in gas prices more than offset any potential confidence benefits associated with the gains in the Dow.

Weekly Economic Insights: Hopeful Signs in Jobs Data

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup’s Job Creation Index increased to +3 last week, closing in on its high for the year. Gallup's Economic Confidence and Consumer Spending measures also improved compared with the prior week.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Declines All Around

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Economic confidence fell slightly last week from the prior week and now stands well below where it was a month ago. The job situation deteriorated from its 2009 high of the prior week, while consumer spending fell back to its 2009 trend line from its paycheck- and Halloween-inspired high.

Weekly Economic Insights: Confidence, Jobs, Spending Down

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup's Economic Confidence, Job Creation, and Consumer Spending measures all trended downward last week.

Many in Europe Want Gov’t Intervention in Financial Crises

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup finds that a median of 78% of respondents in 10 European countries support government intervention in the financial sector during times of economic crisis.

Consumers Spend More on Weekends, Payday Weeks

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Americans spend the most on Saturdays, followed closely by Fridays; accordingly, weekend spending far exceeds weekday spending. More importantly, intensifying spending swings on payday weeks imply there may be a new “cash-based” spending pattern developing.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Spending, Jobs Climb With Dow

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

As the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed past 10,000 last week, economic confidence was unchanged, but consumer spending surged and job-market conditions reached their high for the year. If these trends persist for the next few weeks, Christmas sales could surprise to the upside.

Weekly Economic Insights: Job Creation Improves

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup's Job Creation Index rose to 4 last week, the most positive reading for this measure so far in 2009.

Russians’ Confidence Crumbles With Economy

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup surveys conducted before and after the global economic crisis last year show a sharp 35-percentage point drop in Russian consumer confidence as the economy suffered its worst decline in a decade. Eight in 10 Russians (79%) join Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in worrying about higher unemployment.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Job Market Improves

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Hiring improved a little last week -- bouncing back to its best level of the year, and suggesting less deterioration in the job market -- but consumer confidence was flat and consumer spending fell back, staying within its new normal, and is down 33% from a year ago.

Christmas Spending Forecast Down From a Year Ago

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The average $740 consumers predict they will spend on Christmas gifts this year is down from $801 recorded at this time a year ago, but higher than the $639 prediction Americans gave two months later in the economically troubled 2008 holiday season.

Predicted Christmas Spending Less Than Last October

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Americans currently esitmate that they will spend an average of $740 on Christmas gifts this year, less than the average of $801 recorded at this same time last year.

Gallup Economic Monthly: Confidence Up but Wallets Shut

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:15:00 GMT

Consumer spending remains down 30% across income groups, suggesting retail sales and profit challenges this Christmas. This is the case even with consumer confidence hitting a new high in September and layoffs easing over the past five months.

Crisis Hurts Financial Institutions' Credibility in Europe

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Confidence in financial institutions and banks fell significantly in 10 of 12 European countries Gallup surveyed before and after last fall’s economic downturn -- with Ireland and Romania, the United Kingdom, and Portugal seeing some of the biggest declines.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Consumer Confidence Tumbles

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer confidence took a tumble last week after three good weeks; job layoffs continued to reflect a weak job market; and while spending is up slightly from the prior week, it remains down 30% from a year ago.

Weekly Economic Insights: Consumer Confidence Falls

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup's Consumer Confidence Index fell to -29 last week, the lowest level recorded since mid-July of this year.

Consumer Confidence Slightly Higher in September

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Gallup’s Consumer Confidence Index for the month of September improved modestly over August, with most of the gains coming in the last half of the month.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Spending Trails Confidence, Jobs

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Consumer spending last week was down 17% from the prior week and 39% from a year ago, even as Gallup’s Job Creation Index tied its best level of the year and Gallup’s Consumer Confidence Index hit a new 21-month high.

Weekly Economic Insights: Confidence, Jobs Improve

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup's Consumer Confidence Index rose to a new 21-month high of -20 last week and Job Creation remained positive (3), tying its best level of the year.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Job Creation Improves Slightly

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Even after a good week -- with Gallup's Consumer Confidence Index at a 2009 high, and both job creation and consumer spending up slightly for the week -- Gallup's Job Creation Index is down 13 points and spending is down 26% from a year ago.

Weekly Economic Insights: Status Quo Entrenched

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

In the week ending Sept. 20, 2009, Gallup's measure of Economic Outlook, Consumer Spending, and Job Creation remain essentially on par with recent weeks.

Gallup Daily: Economic Indexes

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index combines the responses of Gallup's Economic Conditions and Economic Outlook measures. Gallup's Job Creation Index is the net of Gallup's Job Market measure.