Mentions exceed those for healthcare, unemployment, other financial issues
November 19, 2009
Reflecting an often-overlooked aspect of today’s job crisis, one in six Americans now mention lack of money or low wages as the most important financial problem facing their families today -- tying a five-year high for the question and more than name healthcare, unemployment, or any other financial issue.More ...
Even as Wall Street soars, consumer spending is down 23% from the same week a year ago
November 17, 2009
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.More ...
Americans reported spending an average of $62 per day last week, down from $65 the week prior and $81 a year ago -- not yet signaling a boost for the holiday spending season.
Only 8% of Americans say now is a good time to find a quality job
November 11, 2009
A new Gallup poll conducted Nov. 5-8 finds a widespread lack of optimism about the job market, with 8% of Americans saying this is a good time to find a quality job, and little variation regardless of gender, region, income, or education.More ...
Double-digit unemployment and higher gas prices send confidence and spending tumbling
November 10, 2009
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.More ...
Hiring increased and layoffs decreased in South and West -- but unchanged in Midwest, West
November 5, 2009
Job-market conditions improved in October, driven by improvements in the South and the East, with hiring up and layoffs down in both regions. Still, the job situation is unchanged in the Midwest and West.More ...
Economic confidence, jobs, and spending improve around Halloween
November 3, 2009
Halloween may have buoyed consumer spirits as Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index, Job Creation Index, and Consumer Spending measure all rebounded from prior- week declines -- returning to or nearing their best levels of the past several weeks and reflecting the variability of today’s consumer economic perceptions.More ...
In August, 41% saw short-term benefits of economic stimulus
October 30, 2009
As the White House claims 640,000 jobs have been saved or created by the economic stimulus package, Gallup finds American workers reporting slightly more hiring at their companies since July, but no increase in the percentage who say it is a good time to find a quality job.More ...
Job creation down but still positive, while spending falls back to the new normal
October 27, 2009
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.More ...
Job Creation Index improves to new high for the year as layoffs ease
October 20, 2009
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.More ...
