| Description | Consumer confidence reflects the paramount economic concern facing the nation or individual. Consumer confidence is measured by two widely followed confidence reports (1) University of Michigan, (2) Conference Board. Over the longer term, both of these surveys move together as they serve as a reflection of national mood. Consumers are more inclined to spend when they feel confident about their financial and employment prospects. Both the index of consumer confidence from the Conference Board and the index from the University of Michigan are good leading indicators of consumer spending. |