GRAND RAPIDS — Consumer confidence, purchases and new orders all rose in February, likely boosted by the sharp decline in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in West Michigan and the nation, according to Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in the GVSU Seidman College of Business. Yet, Long said, February's numbers were
NEW YORK -A nationwide survey conducted by The Conference Board shows that about 54 percent of U.S. workers are satisfied with their employment, up 3 percent from the prior year, as workers also report being much more at ease about their job security. And Millennials have experienced a surge in confidence regarding their wages. The
ANN ARBOR—The March gain in the Consumer Sentiment Index was entirely due to households with incomes in the bottom two-thirds of the income distribution, whereas the February gain was concentrated among upper income households, according to the latest University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Richard Curtin Reports of income gains were at record levels, the
ANN ARBOR - Consumer sentiment has remained at very favorable levels for more than a year. In the February survey, it was just below the October 2017 peak of 100.7, the highest level since 2004, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Expected gains in incomes, jobs and after-tax pay dominated concerns about
ANN ARBOR - Consumer confidence in 2017 was the highest since 2000, and only the long expansions of the 1960s and 1990s were significantly higher, a new report from the University of Michigan says. Consumer confidence did sink in December, with most of the decline among lower income households, according to the University of Michigan
ANN ARBOR - Consumer sentiment surged in October, reaching its highest level since the start of 2004, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. This was only the second time that the Sentiment Index was above 100.0 since the end of the record 1990s expansion. The October gain was due to the most
ANN ARBOR - A survey by the University of Michigan shows 51 percent of consumers reported an improved financial situation in each of the past three months, the highest proportion since November 2000, and only slightly below the all-time peak of 57 percent in 1998. When asked to explain how their finances had improved,
ANN ARBOR - Consumer sentiment continued to slowly fall in the July survey, although the overall level still remains quite favorable, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The small decline amounted to 5.1 Index-points below the January peak, which was the highest figure in a dozen years, said economist Richard Curtin, director
ANN ARBOR - Consumer sentiment in April continued to travel on the high plateau established following Donald Trump's election, with only minor deviations from its five-month average of 97.4, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. There is widespread agreement among consumers on their very positive assessments of the current state of the
ANN ARBOR - The continued strength in consumer sentiment has been due to optimistic views on three critical components: higher incomes and wealth, more favorable job prospects, and low inflation expectations. All of these factors, however, have been influenced by partisanship, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Democrats expect an imminent recession,
