MSNBC: "Consumer confidence highest in 4 years," "Kmart is hiring"...

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Consumer confidence highest in 4 years
But rising energy costs could cast a pall on spending

NEW YORK - Consumers shrugged off higher gasoline prices in April and sent a widely watched barometer of consumer confidence to its highest level in almost four years, a private research group said Tuesday. But the New York-based Conference Board warned that if fuel prices continue to rise, it would cast a pall on consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of all U.S. economic activity.

The Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index rose to 109.6, up from a revised 107.5 in March. April’s reading was the highest since the index touched 110.3 in May 2002. Analysts had expected a reading of 106.4.

Confidence has been on an upswing since November in the aftermath of the Gulf hurricanes, except for a sharp dip in February when short-lived pessimism over the labor market soured consumer sentiment.

“Improving present-day conditions continue to boost consumers’ spirits,” said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center in a statement. “Recent improvements in the labor market have been a major driver behind the rise in confidence in early 2006. Looking ahead, consumers are not as pessimistic as they were last month.”



A Kmart department store help-wanted sign is seen Tuesday in New York. Tuesday’s upbeat consumer confidence report was an encouraging sign for retailers. Mark Lennihan / AP

[Atman]

1. So which BushCo employee wrote this "news" story?

:rofl:

Yeah! K-Mart!

[LSparkle]

2. "This is Karen Ryan, reporting from K-Mart in New York City ... "

[htuttle]

5. LOL!

Isn't that "Special Business Correspondent Karen Ryan"?

:rofl:

[ClintonTyree]

11. A "private research company"......

yeah, OK. :eyes: I'll put a lot of stock in that report as soon as I see who's signing their check. Sounds like bushit to me! :puke:

[GeorgeGist]

13. You can view The Conference Board trustees here...

http://www.conference-board.org/aboutus/trustees.cfm

[meegbear]

3. K-Mart hiring?!?!11

The Clinton Recession is over!!11!

[gatorboy]

6. Whohooo! I can live my dream!

After 4 years of college a job is finally opening up...In women's wear! Weeeee!

[Kansas Wyatt]

18. K-Mart following WalMart, now hiring

Illegal workers, since lazy Americans don't want to work and are needed to shop shop shop.:sarcasm:

[AndyA]

4. Lots of great jobs! Tons of opportunity! No benefits! $6.00 an hour!

Lousy hours!

More of those great Bush jobs being created. :eyes:

[gratuitous]

7. Uhm, April isn't over yet . . .

How did this "private research group" come up with its numbers five days before the end of the month? Is there a link to this story? Is it nearly a year old? What manner of crapola is being peddled here, and why does it fall to some slob with a modem on the West Coast to think of these questions?

[WePurrsevere]

14. It's current... here is the link to the story on WaPo...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/25/AR2006042500605.html

It's showing up in Google's News search: http://tinyurl.com/fsco3

And I agree with you about the info.. something sure stinks. I haven't seen (or experienced) any "consumer confidence" nor shrugs at the gas pump... most folks even in this rather red (turning purple) are are PO'd at the oil men in charge.

[ShortnFiery]

8. I don't see it in my part of the USA. Upbeat?

:wtf:

[electropop]

9. Up a tiny tick from negative numbers to less negative.

It's crapola. You can't tell people the economy is good when they live in it; they know better.

[Rude Horner]

10. What dreamworld are they living in?

"Consumers shrugged off higher gas prices"?

In my neck of the woods, I don't see too many people shrugging at the pumps. More like giving G.W. the finger! I don't know a single person who's confidence in the economy is growing. This report is just total bullshit.

[AX10]

12. People "shrugged off higher gas prices"?

:wtf:?

All lies, all the time!

[WI_DEM]

15. Then how come every poll shows Bush's ratings on the economy

as being so crappy? (31% approval in new ARG poll) and the American people by 2-1 think the country is moving in the "wrong direction?"

[BillZBubb]

16. All Proles thank Big Brother for the increase in the Chocolate

ration from 32 grams to 25 grams. All hail Big Brother!!!!!

[depakid]

17. They'll say anything on MSRNC!

and expect sheeple to believe it!

[orleans]

19. HAHAHA! i love the title of this thread!!! n/t

[johnaries]

20. 109.6? In April 2000 it was 137.7. May 2000 144.7.

From 1997 to 2001 it stayed mostly in the 130's and 140's. Then it abruptly dropped in Jan 2001 to 115.7 from 132.6 in Nov 2000.
http://www.pollingreport.com/consumer.htm

Let's see, now - what important National event took place in Jan 2001? Hmmm.....