Consumer confidence falls sharply

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Confidence falls unexpectedly in February, as consumers' worries about jobs escalate

NEW YORK (AP) -- A monthly poll showed consumers' confidence took a surprisingly sharp fall in February amid rising job worries. The decline ends three straight months of improvement and raises concerns about the economic recovery.

The Conference Board said Tuesday its 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 percent of U.S. economic activity.

The overall Consumer Confidence Index hit a historic low of 25.3 in February 2009 but then enjoyed a three-month climb to 54.8 in May, fueled by signs the economy might be stabilizing. Since then, it has been mired in a narrow range, dropping as low as 47, as rising unemployment took a toll, before climbing again for a three-month stretch.

February's reading is well below the 61.4 figure in September 2008, when the financial crisis intensified with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The index has had an average reading of 95.6 since the Conference Board starting tracking the figures in 1967.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Consumer-con...l?x=0&.v=11

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yup, ever since those stupid Ruskis did that aboriginal dance my faith in the world has been shattered

[spookyturtle 9,466]

How can it fall sharply when it's already below sea level?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

How can it fall sharply when it's already below sea level?

When are treading water, it doesn't help that the sharks are nibbling on your toes!

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

No prob. 15 billion jobs package is on the way. GO BARRY!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Meanwhile consumer confidence at the liquor store is at an all-time high!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Meanwhile consumer confidence at the liquor store is at an all-time high!

Walmart, too! Meanwhile, the malls are like ghost towns.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Walmart, too! Meanwhile, the malls are like ghost towns.

Maybe where you live. I took my wife to the mall last weekend and it was nucking futs around there.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Maybe where you live. I took my wife to the mall last weekend and it was nucking futs around there.

Cool! Could just be the my area, which would be depressing.

Los Angeles was like nobody knew they were in a recession, when I visited there last month either.

[Ali G. 37]

Maybe where you live. I took my wife to the mall last weekend and it was nucking futs around there.

Same here.

They're actually still building homes in this neck of the woods.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Booyah

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Meanwhile consumer confidence at the liquor store is at an all-time high!

I read that crack sales are up too.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Oh #######!!!!! And Alla has been consumin' copious amounts lately. We have this wild and wacky "tax free day" coming up...no sales tax for a day. She is going around "pre-buying" all sorts of stuff...new living room furniture, etc. New washer and dryer. Big stuff. They will charge all of it to her debit card on March 6th. And now we hear this??? OMG better cancel all our spending.

The funny thing is if you sent Alla a "6% OFF, ONE DAY ONLY" coupon she would say "What s this junk? I want 40% OFF at least" But people are going nuts for this stuff. Just goes to show that the majority of people, even in liberal Vermont, just LOVE to shove it up the government's ####### and break it off anytime we can.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Um no - it just shows that you (and Alla) who can afford $200K out of pocket for surgery are insulated from the effects of the recession.

Your wife's shopping habits do not equate to a "majority of people"

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Um no - it just shows that you (and Alla) who can afford $200K out of pocket for surgery are insulated from the effects of the recession.

Your wife's shopping habits do not equate to a "majority of people"

Really? But still, maybe we shouldn't be so confident? What do you think? Should we stop spending? Will it help somone if we do? Who will be helped if we stop spending? I like to be helpful.

The furniture was made in North Carolina and the machines in Kentucky. Maybe those people will agree with you. Maybe we should punish people that achieve independence and take away their money and give it to the government because they are, after all, evil. we don't need them to have all that money which they just spend all over the place. Don't you hate that?

seems like I am doing my part to insulate others from the effects of the recession...how 'bout you?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Really? But still, maybe we shouldn't be so confident? What do you think? Should we stop spending? Will it help somone if we do? Who will be helped if we stop spending? I like to be helpful.

You're a big boy Gary, I'm sure you can manage your own finances and spending.

The furniture was made in North Carolina and the machines in Kentucky. Maybe those people will agree with you. Maybe we should punish people that achieve independence and take away their money and give it to the government because they are, after all, evil. we don't need them to have all that money which they just spend all over the place. Don't you hate that?

seems like I am doing my part to insulate others from the effects of the recession...how 'bout you?

This is just nonsense and you fail on 3 levels: To be relevant, intelligent or humourous.