US consumer confidence climbs to 15-year high in December

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press

TUESDAY, DEC 27, 2016 10:30 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence shot up this month to the highest level in more than 15 years, another sign that Americans are feeling good after a divisive election.

The Conference Board says its consumer confidence index climbed to 113.7 in December, up from 109.4 in November and the highest since it reached 114 in August 2001. The index measures consumers’ assessment of current conditions, which dipped from November but was still sunny, and their expectations for the future, which hit a 13-year high.

Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said the “post-election surge in optimism” was strongest among older Americans.

The U.S. economy grew at a 3.5 percent annual pace from July to September, fastest in two years. Unemployment is at a nine-year low of 4.6 percent.

###


Read more: http://www.salon.com/2016/12/27/us-consumer-confidence-climbs-to-15-year-high-in-december/

[Wounded Bear]

1. Not to worry, I'm sure the Repubs can fix that...

[still_one]

2. no doubt trump will claim credit for it, the media will push that theme, and then when the economy

collapses during his reign, they will blame it on the President Obama and the Democrats, ignoring the fact that they control all of government

[Jacob Boehme]

3. Quote: US consumer confidence climbs to 15-year high in December...

...Just before it does its 'Thelma and Louise' cliff-dive beginning January 20th.

[mpcamb]

14. 15 years... that would be the Bush take over, before their asleep-at-the wheel 9/11

performance. Makes you wonder what's ahead...

August, 2001 was the month Georgie Boy took off before the events that brought us hideous, unending war, loss of national stature, torture, debt- the list goes on and on.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Filter these results: pollsters are lied to regularly now

Trump voters skewed the polls by saying Hillary was ahead

Now they are 100% confident even when they are only 60% confident

It's another tool of ruling elites with too much money

They have nothing to do but count heads

[lark]

5. Stupid Americans!

How can Drumpf voters be so stupid to actually think he's going to improve their lives, when he will patently make them far far worse, unless they are part of the 1%? 20-30 million will lose access to healthcare within 1-3 years, economy will tank due to huge tax cuts that won't create jobs and will put us heavily under water and we could easily be at war with China or Iran, to our extreme detriment. This is the worst time since the 1920's and that's where Drumpf wants to drag us back. I am so worried about the future, Repugs will control 2/3 of states if they get one more in their column and they then could make wholesale changes to the constitution. Freedom of speech and the press would go immediately, along with a woman's right to choose and the ability to marry anyone you want, regardless of sex, Clean Air and Clean Water acts - no more, and who knows what voting changes they'd make. Could they go as far as eliminating the vote for any non-male non-property owner? These are very scary times, having a true criminal as president for the first time in our country's history.

[ffr]

6. Without a doubt, 2017 will mark the beginning of the economic deterioration.

Bank of it!

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. I think we are seeing some irrational exuberance

When the effects of Trump and the GOP's policies start to be apparent, we could go into free fall. That's not just bad for us, it's bad for the whole planet.

[ffr]

8. And like before, people will die needlessly.

I read the story title that Cheetahs 'could' go extinct. "Could," I thought? I'd say that's a certainty that makes me feel even more helpless that our nation was hoodwinked. Lost opportunities that we'll never have again to do what is right as stewards of our planet.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Yup, a death spiral

Makes me glad I'm 60 and don't have kids. I won't have to witness the worst of it. I'm on SSDI and Medicare though. I could very well lose them.

[Yavin4]

10. This is how the sub prime boom came about

Easy access to credit and over-exuberance always lead to mass speculation and then crashes.

[jpak]

11. Wait until they take away their Medicare and Social Security

yup

[elmac]

12. must be all that Xanax kicking in

[Thekaspervote]

13. I'm not buying any of it!

The economy is good because of president Obama. The election had/has NOTHING to do with consumer confidence. No, nope, notta

[haele]

15. No, people bought more while they still could.

That's what I've been hearing here in California. A few Trumpettes have been spending because "Happy Daze are here again/Make Amurikkka Great!", but most people I know bought a bit more this year because they've seen some pay raises over the past two years, and have finally broke even for the most part. There were also a lot of early sales and coupons available so they went ahead and tried to put a good face on things for kids and other family while they could afford it before the uncertainty of a GOP run economy. We in California think we'll be able to hang on longer than the Red States when this country turns into Kansas, but still - we are not totally immune to the Randroid effect of trickle-down. Too many military bases linked to the state economy to totally disengage, and if scientific projects, DoF, the DoE, and other sources of federal funding are cut, we'll have to empty into our "rainy day" fund and raise tax revenue to keep just a minimum of efficiency in the State operations.
Especially if our own conservative knuckleheads in the North and Central Valley areas manage to get their hands on some of the results of GOP looting of the U.S. taxpayer to gain any sort of political foothold after Governer Brown term limits out.

Lots of uncertainty amongst the median range (and lower end of the median range) households this year. They've had a good two-three year run so far, but after next year - who knows?

Haele