The share of respondents in Fannie Mae's survey who said their household income is "significantly higher" than it was a year ago climbed 4 percentage points to a survey high of 29 percent, the company reported. Looking ahead, 48 percent said they expect their finances to improve in the next year, also a survey high. Overall, 44 percent of Americans said they believe the economy is on the right track, an increase of 3 percentage points and only a few points less than those saying the economy is headed the wrong way (49 percent). That optimism spurred 66 percent of those surveyed to say they would buy a home if they had to move, a jump from 61 percent at the end of 2014.
Read More »Brighter Outlook for Economy, Job Market Push Consumer Confidence to Seven-Year High
The survey's index measuring sentiment about present-day conditions rose more than 10 points from December, hitting 112.6, the Conference Board said. The number of respondents saying business conditions are currently good rose nearly four points to 28.1 percent, while the share of those saying jobs are plentiful climbed nearly three points to 20.5 percent.
Read More »Fueled by Lower Gas Prices, Consumer Sentiment Reaches Highest Level in a Decade
According to the group conducting the confidence survey, January's increase—which lifted the index to its highest level since 2004—was driven by an improvement in personal finances, with more consumers reporting increases in household income than any time in the past decade. They're also more optimistic about the labor outlook as job growth continues on a steady track.
Read More »Survey: Americans’ Attitude Mixed Toward Housing, Economy
Consumers' median earnings growth expectations were 2.5 percent for the year ahead in December, the New York Fed revealed. While that marks a step back from November's reading of 2.7 percent, it's still the second-highest reading since the start of that measure in July 2013.
Read More »Consumer Confidence Rebounds Following November Downturn
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index increased to 92.6 in December from its November reading of 91.0, according to the latest monthly Consumer Confidence Survey released Tuesday.
Read More »Consumer Sentiment Index Reaches Highest Level Since ’07 in December Reading
Consumer sentiment gained another five points in an early December measure, putting confidence levels at a near eight-year high.
Read More »Consumer Sentiment Rises for Fourth Straight Month
Consumer sentiment hit yet another post-recession high in November, reflecting increased confidence in personal finances and the labor market heading into the holiday spending season.
Read More »Consumer Confidence Takes Downward Turn in November
According to the Conference Board, consumers in the latest survey were less optimistic about the labor market outlook, reflected in a decline in the share of respondents expecting more jobs in the next six months and an increase of more than 2 percentage points in the share expecting fewer jobs.
Read More »Economic Forecast Exceeds October Predictions
The continuing improvement comes as consumers express a more optimistic outlook for the economy and their own finances. Last week, the University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters preliminary reading of consumer sentiment hit its highest level in more than seven years, spurred by improving labor conditions and cheaper gasoline prices.
Read More »Consumer Sentiment Ahead of November Predictions
Consumer sentiment in the United States jumped more than two points in a preliminary November estimate, beating economic forecasts and hitting a more than seven-year high.
Read More »