Economic Confidence Slips; Holiday Spending Plans Plummet

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Reposted by Kevin M. Kruse
https://bsky.app/profile/kevinmkruse.bsky.social

Aman Batheja
‪@amanbatheja.bsky.social‬

Holy crap chart from Gallup


8:50 AM · Dec 19, 2025

Holy crap chart from Gallup

— Aman Batheja (@amanbatheja.bsky.social) 2025-12-19T13:50:34.196Z

Economy
December 4, 2025

Economic Confidence Slips; Holiday Spending Plans Plummet

Consumers' holiday spending estimate has shrunk by over $200 as economic confidence edges down



by Lydia Saad

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. consumers expressed increased concern about the economy and jobs in November during a period that encompassed the final stretch of the nation’s longest federal government shutdown, significant stock market volatility and uncertainty about the nation’s labor market. Consumers also reported a sharply lower holiday spending estimate than they had forecast in October.

Economic Confidence Drops to 17-Month Low

Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index (ECI) fell seven points to -30 in November, the lowest since a -35 reading in July 2024. The decline reflects slightly worsening views on both components of the index: Americans’ ratings of current economic conditions (as excellent, good, only fair or poor) and their perceptions of whether the economy is getting better or getting worse.

Twenty-one percent of U.S. adults in November, down slightly from 24% in October and the lowest percentage since March, described current economic conditions as excellent or good. By contrast, 40% now rate current conditions as poor, compared with 37% in October. ... Fewer than three in 10 adults in the latest poll, 27%, said the economy is getting better, four percentage points below the October reading and the lowest since July 2024. About two-thirds (68%) said the economy is getting worse.

The ECI has a theoretical range of +100 to -100. The all-time high in Gallup’s trend since 1992 is +56, recorded in January 2000, and the lowest is -72, in October 2008. More recently — within the past five years — the high point was +41 in February 2020, and the low was -58 in June 2022.

{snip}

[gab13by13]

1. I want to see the 4th quarter GDP

If it isn't near zero then it is rigged.

When the GDP is tanking it makes our debt problem much worse. Right now our GDP doesn't pay for the interest on our debt.

Where are those fiscal Magats? Why aren't they talking about our debt crisis?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Coming up on Tuesday:

TUESDAY, DEC. 23
8:15 am ADP National Employment Report Weekly Preliminary Estimate
8:30 am GDP (delayed report) Q3

[doc03]

4. There is no debt crisis unless there is a Democrat in office.

[SheltieLover]

2. Slips? How about fell off a cliff?

[bucolic_frolic]

5. You can see it in stores of all types

Kohl's must have had SALE signs on every shelf and display. Supermarket prices are all over the lot. Raising prices on tariff goods sharply to try to make up the sluggishness on other items. And other very slow moving items are on sale. No one knows what to do so they're trying everything, anything, to bring in cash. Don't want to get caught with all that inventory.

[Hugin]

6. Oh, my...

Significantly! Exceeding many of the worst years since 2006, combined! Nearly doubling 2008.

What a sad commentary that “the best” years are tied at +52. No wonder I am a cynic.