Guarded Consumer Optimism

MediaPost Publications Change Noted In Consumer Spending Expectations 01/28/2009

According to the latest ChangeWave survey of U.S. consumers . . . shows some intriguing signs that consumer spending may finally be stabilizing after a prolonged slowdown . . . the 90-day outlook is not quite as horrible as it was in the December,

Other findings:

• Five percent said they are very satisfied with the current state of their personal finances;
• Twenty-six percent said they are now more confident in the U.S. stock market;
• Respondents reporting spending less to save money is up (18% to 41%), while the number spending less to reduce debt is up (24% to 36%).
  

Quite a change in six weeks. Perhaps it is optimism over the new administration? Maybe we have learned to live within our means? If that is so, does that make eight years under GWB almost worth it?

Tags: consumer optimism, spending down, savings up, debt down