U.S. Consumer Comfort Rises as Personal Finance Outlook Improves

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. consumer expectations rose this week as a gauge of views approached a 17-year high, signaling improved sentiment after a five-week government shutdown ended and the stock market partially rebounded.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index’s weekly expectations rose to 61 from 59.6, according to a report Thursday. A measure of ratings about personal finances rose by the most in nearly four months, while outlook on the national economy also improved.

Key Takeaways

• Gains in two of the three main components indicate consumers are becoming more optimistic after the political impasse and financial-market volatility that came with it, bringing the main gauge closer to the 17-year high of 61.6 that it reached in September.
• The gauge of whether it’s a good or bad time to buy was unchanged at 53.8, nearly at its 18-year peak of 54 from two weeks prior.

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• Consumer sentiment among women is up 3.4 points, reaching an 18-year peak.
• The CCI for consumer’s with only a high school degree also reached an 18-year peak, up 10.6 points from a six-month low in January.
• Sentiment among Democrats increased, narrowing the partisan gap to 23.8 points, its lowest this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Carlyann Edwards in Washington at cedwards136@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Scott Lanman at slanman@bloomberg.net, Alister Bull, Randall Woods

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