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U.S. Consumer Comfort Rises to 19-Year High on Views of Economy

Confidence among Americans surged to the best level since October 2000 on brighter views of the economy and finances

U.S. Consumer Comfort Rises to 19-Year High on Views of Economy
Mannequins are displayed in a store window as pedestrians walk past in the Center City area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. (Photographer: Charles Mostoller/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) --

Confidence among Americans surged to the best level since October 2000 on brighter views of the economy and finances, adding to signs that consumers will continue to underpin a record-long expansion.

Bloomberg’s index of consumer comfort rose 1.2 points to 65.1 in the week ended Jan. 5, according to a report Thursday. All three components improved for a third week, led by the state of the economy measure rising 1.4 points to a nearly 19-year high of 69.7. The readings for personal finances and the buying climate both added at least 1 point.

Key Insights

  • The comfort index’s seventh advance in eight weeks demonstrates how upbeat Americans are feeling amid cooling U.S. trade tensions with China, record stock prices, and the lowest unemployment in a half century.
  • The composition of the survey showed that trend toward improvement has been broad-based, with measures for women, ages 45-54, college graduates, home owners and white Americans all at the highest levels since 2000. The category for married consumers rose to a record 74.3.

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  • The main consumer comfort gauge has climbed 4 points in three weeks, the best such pace since October 2015. The advance extends its steady rebound from a nine-month low of 58 in November.
  • Other measures of the consumer’s mood were mixed in December, with the University of Michigan index at a seven-month high and the Conference Board’s gauge down a fourth time in five months.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jeff Kearns in Washington at jkearns3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Scott Lanman at slanman@bloomberg.net, Vince Golle

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.