Consumer Confidence Down Again

The Conference Board, New York, said its Consumer Confidence Index fell again in May amid economic prospects.

The Index now stands at 92.6, down from 94.7 in April. The Present Situation Index decreased from 117.1 to 112.9, while the Expectations Index declined from 79.7 to 79.0 in May.

Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators with The Conference Board, said the decline resulted primarily from consumers believing current conditions are less favorable. “Expectations declined further, as consumers remain cautious about the outlook for business and labor market conditions,” she said. “Thus, they continue to expect little change in economic activity in the months ahead.”

Mark Vitner, senior economist with Wells Fargo Securities, Charlotte, N.C., said rising gasoline prices might have been a factor, noting the present condition series fell to its lowest reading since November. Nonetheless, he said concerns do not appear to be affecting spending.

“Buying plans were the clear bright spot in this report, with plans to purchase an automobile rising 0.8 percentage points and plans to buy a home rising 0.7 percentage point,” Vitner said.

The report said consumers’ assessment of current conditions weakened in May. The percentage stating business conditions are “good” improved from 24.2 percent to 25.9 percent. However, those saying business conditions are “bad” also increased, from 18.2 percent to 21.6 percent. Consumers’ appraisal of the labor market was less favorable. The proportion claiming jobs are “plentiful” was virtually unchanged at 24.3 percent, however those claiming jobs are “hard to get” increased from 22.8 percent to 24.4 percent.

Consumers were less optimistic about the short-term outlook than last month. Those expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months increased from 13.8 percent to 15.1 percent, but those expecting business conditions to worsen also rose, from 10.8 percent to 11.6 percent.

Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was less favorable. Those anticipating more jobs in the months ahead was virtually unchanged at 12.8 percent, but those anticipating fewer jobs increased from 16.7 percent to 18.1 percent. The proportion of consumers expecting their incomes to increase improved from 15.8 percent to 16.2 percent, while the proportion expecting a reduction in income remained steady at 12.4 percent.