BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Consumer Confidence Drops in December]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/28/consumer-confidence-drops-in-december/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/28/consumer-confidence-drops-in-december/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/28/consumer-confidence-drops-in-december/#commentsFiled under:

consumer confidenceJust as we are hearing that retailers had a great December, we get news from the Conference Board that U.S. consumer confidence dropped to 52.5 in December. Expectations had been for an increase to 56.9, making for quite a disparity between expectation and reality.

The director of the Conference Board's consumer research center, Lynn Franco, noted that "Consumers' assessment of the current state of the economy and labor market remains tepid, and their outlook remains cautious." Franco added that signs suggest continuing growth for the economy, "but that the pace of growth will remain moderate."

Continue reading Consumer Confidence Drops in December

Consumer Confidence Drops in December originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Conference Boardconsumer confidenceeconomic recoveryeconomyfeaturedinthenewsLynn FrancoTue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Conference Board and China Sparked Market Selloff]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/29/the-conference-board-and-china-sparked-todays-market-selloff/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/29/the-conference-board-and-china-sparked-todays-market-selloff/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/29/the-conference-board-and-china-sparked-todays-market-selloff/#commentsFiled under:

Markets around the globe -- beginning in Asia, where the Shanghai Index dropped 4.27%, continuing through Europe, where the FTSE 100 lost 3.10%, and ending in the United States, where the S&P 500 has already plunged nearly 3% -- fell today.

The bearish action was sparked when the Conference Board revised its leading economic index for China down from 1.7 to 0.3 percent. The Conference Board had initially released its index on June 15, but it had to retract its announcement and release an updated number because the previous number had a calculation error in it.

You may be wondering, what is the Conference Board and why does its Chinese index matter so much? If so, you're not alone.

Continue reading The Conference Board and China Sparked Market Selloff

The Conference Board and China Sparked Market Selloff originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese economyconference boardinthenewsworld marketsTue, 29 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Consumer confidence index posts biggest jump since 2003 ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/consumer-confidence-index-posts-biggest-jump-since-2003/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/consumer-confidence-index-posts-biggest-jump-since-2003/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/26/consumer-confidence-index-posts-biggest-jump-since-2003/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The housing market remains in peril and the labor market isn't much better. But American consumers are hoping that change is coming for the better, according to those polled by the Conference Board.

The group's monthly index of consumer confidence jumped in May to 54.9 (the highest reading in eight months) from April's revised reading of 40.8. This nearly 35% move is the largest one-month increase since April 2003. What's more, it is well above economists' expectations of 42.0.

The number of respondents noting that jobs are "hard to get" declined slightly to 44.7% from 46.6%. On the flip side, those describing available jobs as plentiful edged up to 5.7% from 4.9% last month. In other news, the number of Americans who plan on buying a car in the next six months rose to 5.5%, the highest figure in a year. Just 2.3%, however, plan on buying homes in this so-called buyers' market.

Continue reading Consumer confidence index posts biggest jump since 2003

Consumer confidence index posts biggest jump since 2003 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conference boardConferenceBoardconsumer confidenceConsumerConfidencefeaturedTue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing bell: Stocks gain as housing, consumer confidence data ignored]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/30/closing-bell-stocks-end-with-gains-as-housing-consumer-confidn/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/30/closing-bell-stocks-end-with-gains-as-housing-consumer-confidn/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/30/closing-bell-stocks-end-with-gains-as-housing-consumer-confidn/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It is a bit odd that when both consumer confidence and housing prices hit levels of virtual collapse the market does little other than move up.

The Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index dropped to 38, an all-time low. The Case-Shiller price index published today by Standard & Poor's showed that housing values in major metro areas dropped 18% in October compared to the same month last year.

The only plausible explanation for the market's indifference is the idea that all the bad news is already priced into equities. If so, trading may turn ugly early next year when stockholders find out this bad news is only the beginning.

Continue reading Closing bell: Stocks gain as housing, consumer confidence data ignored

Closing bell: Stocks gain as housing, consumer confidence data ignored originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Case-ShillerConference BoardConferenceBoardfeaturedGMGMACTue, 30 Dec 2008 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[March leading economic indicators rises 0.1%, suggesting weak growth ahead]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/17/march-leading-economic-indicators-rises-0-1-suggesting-weak-gr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/17/march-leading-economic-indicators-rises-0-1-suggesting-weak-gr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/17/march-leading-economic-indicators-rises-0-1-suggesting-weak-gr/#commentsFiled under: ,

The index of Leading Economic Indicators increased 0.1% in March 2008, the Conference Board announced Thursday (pdf), with the organization adding that weak growth conditions may persist in the second half of 2008.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected the index to increase 0.2% in March 2008. The index decreased a revised 0.3% in February 2008 and decreased 0.4% in January 2008.

It was the first rise for the index after five straight monthly declines. Five of the ten indicators that comprise the leading index increased in March 2008. The positive contributors ---starting with the largest ---were: real money
supply, index of supplier deliveries (vendor performance), interest rate spread, average weekly, manufacturing hours, and manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials.

Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance made up the largest negative contributor to the index.

Difficult business conditions persist

Economist Glen Langan told BloggingStocks Thursday that even though the index increased slightly in March 2008, ending a a 5-month slide, the statistic still suggests a tough road ahead for the U.S. economy. "It's the smallest of rises, one that's hardly indicative of a reverse in economic trends. The index could resume sliding next month," Langan said. "We had no job growth in the first quarter, declining profits, and a housing sector in a severe correction or worse, so we're staring slow growth or no growth right in the face. Economic conditions and consumer demand in the second quarter are likely to remain challenging, to say the least."

The leading index now stands at 102 (base year is 2004 = 100). During the six-month period through March 2008, the leading index decreased 1.6%, with only three out of ten components advancing.

March leading economic indicators rises 0.1%, suggesting weak growth ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Conference BoardGDPinthenewsleading economic indicatorsU.S. economyThu, 17 Apr 2008 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. leading economic indicators' January decline suggests weak growth ahead]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/21/u-s-leading-economic-indicators-january-decline-suggests-weak/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/21/u-s-leading-economic-indicators-january-decline-suggests-weak/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/21/u-s-leading-economic-indicators-january-decline-suggests-weak/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The index of leading economic indicators declined 0.1% in January 2008 -- its forth consecutive monthly decline, the Conference Board announced Thursday, suggesting the U.S. economy is likely to register weak growth in the period ahead.

One bright spot: the group's coincident index, which measures current conditions, rose 0.1% in January 2008, indicating that the economy wasn't in recession last month.

The Conference Board said five of the 10 components that make up the leading indicators -- stock prices, building permits, manufacturers' new orders, non-defense capital goods, and interest-rate spreads -- declined in January 2008. Real money supply, average weekly jobless claims, and consumer expectations/vendor performance increased. Average weekly manufacturing hours and manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods/materials remained the same.

Continue reading U.S. leading economic indicators' January decline suggests weak growth ahead

U.S. leading economic indicators' January decline suggests weak growth ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business confidenceConference Boardconsumer spendingConsumerSpendingfeaturedGDPleading economic indicatorsleiU.S. economyThu, 21 Feb 2008 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. leading indicators suggest sluggish economy ahead]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/18/u-s-leading-indicators-suggest-sluggish-economy-ahead/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/18/u-s-leading-indicators-suggest-sluggish-economy-ahead/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/18/u-s-leading-indicators-suggest-sluggish-economy-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The nation's economy is more likely to experience additional economic weakness and slowing growth in the months ahead, according to data released by the Conference Board Friday.

The Index of Leading Economic Indicators declined again in December 2007, down 0.2%, worse than the 0.1% decline estimate, the Conference Board announced Friday in a statement (pdf). The index dropped 0.4% in November 2007.

Declines in 4 of 6 months

It was the third consecutive decline for the leading index, which has also dropped in four of the last six months.

The largest negative contributors to the index in December 2007 were housing permits, average working hours in manufacturing, new orders for non-defense capital goods, initial unemployment claims, and consumer expectations.

Continue reading U.S. leading indicators suggest sluggish economy ahead

U.S. leading indicators suggest sluggish economy ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BushConference Boardconsumer confidencefeaturedfiscal policyGDPhousingIndex of Leading Economic Indicatorsmanufacturingmonetary policyPresident BushrecessionU.S. CongressU.S. economyU.S. Federal ReserveFri, 18 Jan 2008 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Ben Bernanke be Santa or the Grinch?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/27/will-ben-bernanke-be-santa-or-the-grinch/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/27/will-ben-bernanke-be-santa-or-the-grinch/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/27/will-ben-bernanke-be-santa-or-the-grinch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This may turn out to be a holiday season only The Grinch could love.

The closely watched Conference Board index of consumer confidence fell to 87.3 in November, its lowest level since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, while house values fell 4.5% in the third quarter, the biggest drop since S&P/Case-Schiller started tracking them in 1988, according to Bloomberg News. Rising foreclosures will sap billions from major metropolitan areas next year, according to a report released today by the National Conference of Mayors.

To put it bluntly, despite the hoopla over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, all indications show that consumers are telling retailers "bah humbug." Does this mean that Santa (AKA Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke) will bring more holiday rate cuts? At least one fed official says no.

In a speech today in Rochester, NY, Charles Plosser of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said that he isn't inclined to seek another rate cut unless growth in 2008 is much weaker than expected. Besides, a weaker economic outlook for next year was considered when the Fed cut rates in October.

The stock market, though, continues to act irrationally.

Today, the Dow Jones industrial average surged 215 points to 12,958.44 after Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) got a $7.5 billion investment from a fund tied to the government of Abu Dhabi. That's nice but as Bloomberg News points out, that investment came with a steep price.

"Citigroup Inc., the biggest U.S. bank, is paying a "junk bond'' rate to uphold Chairman Robert Rubin's pledge to preserve the dividend and weather this year's mortgage-market decline," the news service says. "The 11 percent interest rate on $7.5 billion of convertible shares that Citigroup sold to the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is almost double the rate it offers bond investors."

This proves that there is no so such thing as a free lunch.


Will Ben Bernanke be Santa or the Grinch? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu dhabiabu dhabi investment authorityAbuDhabiAbuDhabiInvestmentAuthorityben bernankeBenBernankeccharles plosserCharlesPlosserconference boardConferenceBoardconsumer confidenceConsumerConfidencefeaturedrobert rubinRobertRubinTue, 27 Nov 2007 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Economists growing more optimistic, CEOs pessimistic]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/11/economists-growing-more-optimistic-ceos-pessimistic/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/11/economists-growing-more-optimistic-ceos-pessimistic/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/11/economists-growing-more-optimistic-ceos-pessimistic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Economists and CEOs have vastly different views on the economy.

A Wall Street Journal (registration required) poll of economists surveyed between Oct. 5 and Oct. 9 showed that on average they put the chance of a recession at 34%, down from 37% in September.

Is it a big deal that economists are 3% more optimistic than they used to be? Well, that depends. Though the dismal scientists expect the federal funds rate to be reduced one more time this year by one-quarter percentage point, they are pretty downbeat on the housing market.

Many, though, apparently see the glass as half full.

"Some of the uncertainties have faded, partly due to the fact that the Fed moved more aggressively," Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP, told the Journal. "The Fed's willingness to pull out all the stops played a role in bolstering the economy."

Now contrast that with the views of CEOs, such as Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER)'s Stan O'Neill, who according to Reuters said in the preface to a poll by the Business Council and Conference Board that, "Results ... show markedly more pessimism about current U.S. business conditions, compared to other parts of the world."

In fact, 44.3% of the 61 top CEOs expect economic conditions in their industries to get worse, up from 24.4% in February. Almost 60% of those surveyed expect the U.S. economy to get worse, up from 24.4% a year earlier.

So who are you going to believe?


Economists growing more optimistic, CEOs pessimistic originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceosconference boardConferenceBoardeconomistseconomyfederal funds rateFederal ReserveFederalFundsRateFederalReserveinthenewsThe FedTheFedThu, 11 Oct 2007 16:20:00 EST