The shock of the hurricanes and subsequent leap in gas prices has begun wearing off just in time for the holiday season.
The sharp drop in short-term expectations in January is more likely due to international circumstances than domestic instabilities,
Consumers' short-term optimism is no longer at recession levels, and the upward trend signals that the economy may be close to bottoming out and that a rebound by mid-2002 is likely,
Consumers continue to rate current conditions quite positively, but they're still tentative about the outlook.
Consumers' confidence has been bolstered by the improvement in business and labor market conditions, ... The latest gains are striking. This new boom in confidence should translate into increased consumer spending and stronger economic growth ahead.
Consumers appear to have less Christmas spirit heading into Thanksgiving this year than last year,
Consumers appear to be weathering the steady rise in gas prices quite well,
Consumer confidence readings continue to indicate a strong overall economy. Consumers are not only optimistic about current conditions, but their expectations for the next six months signal continued low unemployment and minimal inflationary pressures.
The level of optimism does not suggest a dramatic acceleration in economic growth during the first half of 2003.
Consumer confidence continues to bounce back and is now at its highest level since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.
