Mass. Consumer Confidence Inches Upward
Consumer confidence among Bay State residents improved slightly in the latest in the latest survey by MassInsight, which credited improvements in the real estate and stock markets.
MassInsight's consumer confidence index rose from 82 to 87 for the second quarter, a turnaround from a nine-point drop in the first quarter. (The index base of 100 was established in 1985.) It's also the highest reading since the first quarter of 2007, when the gauge registered a 97.
"With an improving local housing market and recent stock market surge, it's not surprising that Massachusetts consumers have a more positive outlook towards their overall economic well-being," said William H. Guenther, chairman and CEO of MassInsight.
Massachusetts consumer confidence is now 19 points higher than national consumer confidence, which is measured on the same scale by The Conference Board.
Bay Staters may be more optimistic about the months ahead. Optimism on future expectations now stands at 109, up four points from the first-quarter level of 105. Meanwhile, optimism on current conditions moved up six points to 54. MassInsight said the data suggest that Bay State residents have settled into a level of confidence seen for most of 2012, with the exception of a positive spike in the fourth quarter, when the index rose 10 points.
Read more
The Recession’s Over, But Rental Housing Market Shows No Signs Of Stopping
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments