Consumer Confidence Declines Again
NEW YORK - Consumer confidence fell in January for the second straight month, largely because Americans are less optimistic about the job market and any increases in their incomes, the New York-based Conference Board reported Tuesday.
The private research group said its Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 79 from a revised 80.7 in December. Analysts had been expecting a bigger decline in the index to a reading of 78.5 for January.
"Overall readings continue to reflect the country's lackluster economic activity," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board's Consumer Research Center. "Now, with the threat of war looming, consumers have grown increasingly cautious about the short-term outlook."
January marks the second consecutive decline for the Consumer Confidence Index, which has ticked up only once -- in November -- following a five-month-long summer decline. Since May, when the index stood at 110.3, it has continued on a downward spiral.
In the latest survey, the percentage of consumers expecting fewer jobs in the coming months rose to 20.9 percent in January from 20.2 percent in December. Those who think the job market will improve declined to 14.3 percent from 15.4 percent.
Americans are also less optimistic about making more money. The percentage of those surveyed anticipating an increase in their incomes dropped to 18.4 percent from 19.6 percent a month before.
The Conference Board said consumers' expectations for the next six months are also lower, compared with how they felt at the end of 2002. Those expecting the economy to perform worse in the first half of this year rose to 14 percent from 11 percent in December, while the percentage of people anticipating an improvement in business conditions dropped to 17.7 percent in January from 21.2 percent in December.
The Conference Board's index is based on a monthly survey of some 5,000 U.S. households. Wall Street closely follows the index because consumer confidence drives consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the nation's economic activity. The index compares results to its base year, 1985, when it stood at 100.
The private research group said its Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 79 from a revised 80.7 in December. Analysts had been expecting a bigger decline in the index to a reading of 78.5 for January.
"Overall readings continue to reflect the country's lackluster economic activity," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board's Consumer Research Center. "Now, with the threat of war looming, consumers have grown increasingly cautious about the short-term outlook."
January marks the second consecutive decline for the Consumer Confidence Index, which has ticked up only once -- in November -- following a five-month-long summer decline. Since May, when the index stood at 110.3, it has continued on a downward spiral.
In the latest survey, the percentage of consumers expecting fewer jobs in the coming months rose to 20.9 percent in January from 20.2 percent in December. Those who think the job market will improve declined to 14.3 percent from 15.4 percent.
Americans are also less optimistic about making more money. The percentage of those surveyed anticipating an increase in their incomes dropped to 18.4 percent from 19.6 percent a month before.
The Conference Board said consumers' expectations for the next six months are also lower, compared with how they felt at the end of 2002. Those expecting the economy to perform worse in the first half of this year rose to 14 percent from 11 percent in December, while the percentage of people anticipating an improvement in business conditions dropped to 17.7 percent in January from 21.2 percent in December.
The Conference Board's index is based on a monthly survey of some 5,000 U.S. households. Wall Street closely follows the index because consumer confidence drives consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the nation's economic activity. The index compares results to its base year, 1985, when it stood at 100.