The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® increased in May, its third consecutive monthly gain. The Index now stands at 63.3 (1985=100), up from 57.7 in April. The Present Situation Index increased to 30.2 from 28.2. The Expectations Index improved to 85.3 from 77.4 last month.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in January, declined sharply in February. The Index now stands at 46.0 (1985=100), down from 56.5 in January.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in November, rose again in December. The Present Situation Index, however, continued to lose ground and remains at a 26-year low...
The Conference Board Annual Salary Increase Budgets Survey, released one week before Labor Day, reports the lowest yearly forecast for company salary budgets since the survey began 25 years ago. The 2010 median forecast salary increase budget is 3.00 percent in all employee categories, down a half percent from the previous year.
U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $418 on gifts during the holiday season, down from last year's estimate of $471, The Conference Board reported on November 21.
Online consumers intend to spend less in stores this holiday season than last year, The Conference Board and TNS report, but slightly more online. Consumers will be expecting free shipping and deals not available in stores when they shop online.