Confidence in Economy Shows a Dip

[radfringe]

Confidence in Economy Shows a Dip
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/31/business/31econ.html
By REUTERS
Published: March 31, 2004

Consumer confidence edged lower this month, with Americans expressing concern about slow job creation, according to a report released yesterday.

The Conference Board, a private research firm, said its index of consumer confidence slipped to 88.3 in March from an upwardly revised 88.5 in February. Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast a drop to 86.5.

But revisions to February's data put consumer confidence levels above expectations for March, diminishing the negative impact of the reported slight decline in confidence.

"Consumer confidence has improved but remains fragile due primarily to a soft jobs market and the recent rise in gasoline prices,'' said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Economy.com in West Chester, Pa. "The volatility in the stock market is also weighing on consumers' psyche."

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see --> http://www.pollingreport.com/consumer.htm and http://www.pollingreport.com/national.htm

[skooooo]

1. Wait until gas prices take their toll......

...we've had it "good" the past 3 years compared to what we're headed for.