Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| May 11 2012

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Reaches Four Year high

Summary

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for mid-May rose to 77.8 from 76.4 in April. The gain was to the highest level since January 2008 and compared to expectations for a slip to 76.0. The reading of current [...]


The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for mid-May rose to 77.8 from 76.4 in April. The gain was to the highest level since January 2008 and compared to expectations for a slip to 76.0. The reading of current economic conditions led the rise with a rebound to 87.3. The consumer expectations index dipped to 71.7 following a firm April improvement. During the last ten years there has been a 61% 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 over 300 households. Data can be found in Haver's USECON database. The expectations figure is from Action Economics and is found in Haver's AS1REPNA database.

University of Michigan
(Q1'66 = 100)
Mid-May Apr Mar May
Y/Y %
2011 2010 2009
Consumer Sentiment 77.8 76.4 76.2 4.7 67.3 71.8 66.3
 Current Economic Conditions 87.3 82.9 86.0 6.6 79.1 80.9 69.6
 Consumer Expectations 71.7 72.3 69.8 3.2 59.8 66.0 64.1
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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