In survey findings released Tuesday, Bankrate.com reported that two-thirds of American consumers are now limiting how much they spend each month. Of those who have had to draw their purse strings tighter, 32 percent cited stagnant income as the main reason, while 29 percent said they need to save more. Sixteen percent cited worries about the economy in general.
Read More »Forecast: Housing to Follow Economy to Solid Ground
Now that the overall economy is on more solid ground, Wells Fargo economists suggest that housing may soon follow in its footsteps. While some predict that the housing market is poised for more rentals than buys for years to come, particularly among millennials, Wells Fargo suggests the contrary.
Read More »Americans Show Renewed Optimism for Housing
According to results from Fannie Mae's September 2014 National Housing Survey, Americans' optimism about the housing market recovered last month following declines in both July and August, with the share of respondents saying now is a good time to buy a home jumping 4 percentage points to 68 percent. The share of consumers saying they would purchase a home if they were going to move also picked up, increasing 2 percentage points to 66 percent.
Read More »Consumer Confidence Suffers Backslide in September
The Conference Board reported a drop of nearly eight points in its monthly measure of consumer sentiment, putting the group's index at 86 from August's upwardly revised reading of 93.4. Economists had expected a slight nudge upward to 92.5 from an originally reported 92.4 the previous month.
Read More »Consumer Confidence Reaches Post-Recession High on Income Growth Expectations
Consumer confidence reached its highest level since the Great Recession in September, according to the Thomson Reuters and University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The index rose 2.5 percent over the month to 77.5. However, "confidence has repeatedly failed to move above this level," according to the survey.
Read More »Americans More Secure Financially; Expect Further Home Price Growth
As government data points to depreciating home prices in certain areas of the country, a new survey released this week shows more than half of Americans still expect prices to increase over the next 12 months. "Housing, like the stock market, is something consumers look to as an indicator for whether things are headed in the right direction," said Greg McBride, CFA, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.
Read More »Millennial Optimism Boosts U.S. Housing Confidence
American consumers' enthusiasm for the housing market rose over the summer from the year's start, but expectations for future market performance have become more subdued, according to survey results released by Zillow. Among the thousands of Americans surveyed, confidence is higher among renters as purchase conditions continue to look favorable and rent prices climb.
Read More »Builder Confidence Rises to Nearly Nine-Year High
NAHB's Housing Market Index, a gauge of builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes, rose four points in the group's latest reading to 59, nine points above the benchmark separating a market largely viewed as good from one viewed as poor. September's gain brings the index to its highest value since November 2005, NAHB reported.
Read More »Housing Sentiment Softens as Wage Growth Stagnates
Despite economic strides made in the last few months, Fannie Mae's latest survey found Americans' outlook toward housing deteriorated again in August, "[suggesting] that housing activity may resume its modest recovery in 2015 after some pullback last year," analysts said. "The August National Housing Survey results lend support to our forecast that 2015 will likely not be a breakout year for housing," said Doug Duncan, SVP and chief economist at Fannie Mae.
Read More »Consumer Sentiment Lifts in Final August Reading
After a poor reading earlier in the month, consumer sentiment in August recovered more than expected, despite concerns about the economy's future direction. The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters Index of Consumer Sentiment climbed to 82.5 in the final August reading, slightly better than July's final value of 81.8 but a sharp upturn from a mid-month reading of 79.2.
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