Consumer Confidence Slips to 116.4

April 25, 2007

The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis, slipped close to a point on Wednesday to 116.4. That's up four points from last week and is nearly one and a half points above its reading a month ago. Nationally, a plurality (41%) of Americans rate their personal finances as good or excellent these days. A little over a third (36%) say their finances are fair and a fifth (20%) rate their finances as poor lately.

The Rasmussen Investor Index dropped a point today to 136.6. Wednesday's Index is three and a half points above last week's reading and is up a point from March's full-month average.

A recent survey performed by Rasmussen Reports for Hudson finds that employers seem to appreciate their employees' need for flexibility. Bosses are somewhat accepting to the person needs of their workers. The same survey also found that more than half of workers don't use all their vacation time.

According to the Country Financial Security Index, Americans grew more pessimistic about their personal level of financial security in April. The survey, conducted by Rasmussen Reports, shows that the Country Financial Security Index slipped 0.8 points to 69.4, down from 70.2 in February. (More Below)

Even though ratings of their personal finances continue to trend upwards Chicagoland residents are less optimistic about the U.S. economy than they were last December. According to the Rasmussen Consumer Index for Chicagoland, consumer economic confidence dropped more than seven points to 114.1 last month, from 121.2 at the end of last year. 

The Hudson Employment Index (SM) rose almost two points last month to 109.0. Improved sentiment regarding personal finances and job satisfaction prompted the third consecutive monthly rise in worker optimism.

The Rasmussen Consumer Index and Investor Index are derived from nightly telephone surveys of 500 adults and reported on a three-day rolling average basis.  For the full month of January, the Rasmussen Consumer Index rose almost three points from its December average. (see trends and details for demographic groups). Detailed supplemental information is available for Premium Members. Historical data for the Consumer and Investor indexes as well as attitudes about the economy and personal finances are also available to Premium Members.

The Rasmussen Consumer Index reached its highest level ever at 127.0 on January 6, 2004. The all-time low was reached March 11, 2003 at 83.2.

The Rasmussen Investor Index reached its highest level ever at 150.9 on January 7, 2004. The lowest level ever measured was 91.1 on March 13, 2003.

The baseline for the Rasmussen Consumer Index was established at 100.0 in October 2001. The current reading of 116.4 means that overall levels of economic confidence are higher today than the confidence level in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

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