Consumer confidence falls sharply!
NEW YORK - February 23, 2010 - A monthly poll showed consumer confidence took a surprisingly sharp fall in February amid rising job worries. The decline ends three straight months of improvement and raises concerns about whether there really is an economic recovery.
The Conference Board said Tuesday it’s Consumer Confidence Index fell almost 11 points to 46 in February, down from a revised 56.5 in January. Analysts were expecting only a slight decrease to 55.
The increasing pessimism is a big blow to hopes that consumer spending will power an economic recovery. Economists watch the confidence numbers closely because consumer spending accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity.
The February reading is a long way from what's considered healthy. A reading above 90 means the economy is on solid footing. Above 100 signals strong growth.
The news sent stocks lower, overshadowing retailer reports that showed stronger holiday profits. By midmorning, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 74.29 points to 10,309.09.
One gauge, measuring consumers' assessment of current conditions, dropped to 19.4 from 25.2, the lowest level since 1983. The other barometer, which measures their outlook over the next six months and had been rising since October 2009, fell to 63.8 from 77.3.
The Conference Board said Tuesday it’s Consumer Confidence Index fell almost 11 points to 46 in February, down from a revised 56.5 in January. Analysts were expecting only a slight decrease to 55.
The increasing pessimism is a big blow to hopes that consumer spending will power an economic recovery. Economists watch the confidence numbers closely because consumer spending accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity.
The February reading is a long way from what's considered healthy. A reading above 90 means the economy is on solid footing. Above 100 signals strong growth.
The news sent stocks lower, overshadowing retailer reports that showed stronger holiday profits. By midmorning, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 74.29 points to 10,309.09.
One gauge, measuring consumers' assessment of current conditions, dropped to 19.4 from 25.2, the lowest level since 1983. The other barometer, which measures their outlook over the next six months and had been rising since October 2009, fell to 63.8 from 77.3.
