Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Nov 09 2012

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Surges Again

Summary

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for mid-November jumped to 84.9 (33.3% y/y) from an unrevised 82.6 in October. The latest figure was the highest since July 2007 and beat expectations for 83.0. During the last [...]


The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for mid-November jumped to 84.9 (33.3% y/y) from an unrevised 82.6 in October. The latest figure was the highest since July 2007 and beat expectations for 83.0. 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 rise in this month's overall consumer sentiment reading was led by the rise in the current economic conditions index to 91.3 (18.0% y/y) while the expected conditions reading increased to 80.8 (47.2% y/y).

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 forecast figure is from Action Economics and can be found in Haver's AS1REPNA database.

Detecting early signs of financial instability from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago can be found here.

University of Michigan
(Q1'66 = 100)
Mid-Nov Oct Sept Nov'11 2011 2010 2009
Consumer Sentiment 84.9 82.6 78.3 63.7 67.3 71.8 66.3
 Current Economic Conditions 91.3 88.1 85.7 77.4 79.1 80.9 69.6
 Consumer Expectations 80.8 79.0 73.5 54.9 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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