Confidence Measures


Spending confidence sagged amid tax reform debate

Spending confidence sagged in December amid uncertainty about tax reform effects—especially among Gen X and Boomer households, who make up the bulk of affected tax payers. Millennials were the encouraging exception. Their confidence to spend over the next 90 days continued…



Confidence reverts to improving trend toward holiday

Spending confidence rebounded across key generations in October—reverting to an improving outlook heading toward the December holidays—as hurricane and other weather effects subsided. Millennials and Gen X led the confidence pickup, which are the two groups most likely to drive discretionary…


Confidence yields ominous sign for spending outlook

An ominous sign for the consumer outlook emerged in September as confidence to spend over the next 90 days sagged across generations from Millennials to Boomers. The across-the-board letup runs counter to the recent trend. Since the November elections, at least…


Spending outlook kept positive by Gen X

The spending outlook through the back-to-school and holiday seasons is looking more positive as Gen X shoppers sustained a pickup in spending confidence for a second month in a row. The improving spending sentiment among Gen X is key because they…


Spending outlook brightens with Millennials and Gen X

The outlook for consumer spending in the coming months has brightened with a pickup in spending confidence led by Millennial and Gen X shoppers. The confidence pickup among Millennials in July is particularly notable because their year-long weakness had been offsetting…