Recent Updates
- Philippines: GDP (Q4, 2019)
- Australia: Labor Force Survey (Dec)
- Japan: International Trade, Real Trade Index (Dec-Prelim), All Industry Activity Indexes, Index of Business Condition (Nov)
- New Zealand: External Migration (Nov), Motor Vehicle
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
Chicago Fed National Activity Index Points to Below Trend Growth in Q4
Activity index declines to -0.35 in December...
U.S. FHFA House Price Index Increases Moderately
The FHFA Price Index increased 0.2% during November following a 0.4% October gain...
U.S. Mortgage Applications Ease after Prior Week's Surge
The MBA Mortgage Loan Index decreased 1.2% in the January 17 week...
U.S. Energy Prices Decline Again
Retail gasoline prices fell to $2.54 per gallon (+12.7% y/y) in the week ended January 20...
U.K. Industrial Optimism Makes a U-Turn for the Better
It is as though the CBI conducted its survey in Q4 and in Q1 in two different countries...
by Tom Moeller March 30, 2012
The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for March increased to 76.2 from 75.3 in February. The figure compared to expectations for a slight dip to 75.0. An improved reading of current economic conditions led the gain in last month's sentiment that was offset by a decline in consumer expectations. During the last ten years there has been a 60% correlation between the level of sentiment and the three-month change in real personal consumption expenditures.
The Reuters/University of Michigan survey data are not seasonally adjusted. The readings are based on telephone interviews with just- over 300 households. Data are in Haver's USECON database. The expectations figure is in Haver's AS1REPNA database.
| University of Michigan (Q1'66 = 100) |
Mar | Mid Mar |
Feb | Jan | Mar Y/Y |
2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Sentiment | 76.2 | 74.3 | 75.3 | 75.0 | 12.9% | 67.3 | 71.8 | 66.3 |
| Current Economic Conditions | 86.0 | 84.2 | 83.0 | 84.2 | 4.2 | 79.1 | 80.9 | 69.6 |
| Consumer Expectations | 69.8 | 68.0 | 70.3 | 69.1 | 20.6 | 59.8 | 66.0 | 64.1 |
