http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/09/consumer.confidence.ap/index.html(AP-Ispos confidence poll) Good vibes felt among consumers(sort of)
Confidence felt despite disappointing economic news
Friday, July 9, 2004 Posted: 10:50 AM EDT (1450 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumers' spirits brightened over the past month as Americans felt better about the economy's prospects, an encouraging sign for the nation's economic well-being.
The AP-Ipsos consumer confidence index climbed to 92 in July(benchmarked to a 100 reading on January 2002), up from 91.3 in June. The latest reading -- taken after the Federal Reserve's first interest rate increase in four years and a disappointing employment report -- indicated that consumers took both pieces of news in stride, analysts said.<snip>
A subindex tracking consumers' feelings about the jobs climate held steady in July at 104.4, unchanged from the previous month. Still, Americans feel better about labor market conditions than they did last July, when this measure was at 95.7.<snip>
A subindex looking at consumers' feelings about current economic conditions dipped to 94.8 in July. While that was down from 95.6 in June, it was higher than the 86.1 reading a year earlier.
Another gauge of consumers' attitudes about making a purchase, saving and other investment decisions, also declined to 92.2 in July from 94.7 in June, but was still better than the reading of 87.6 registered last year.<snip>