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Consumer confidence at all-time low
Reuters ^ | 10.28.08 | Steven C. Johnson

Posted on 10/28/2008 9:27:52 AM PDT by meandog

By Steven C. Johnson

NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence plunged to a record low in October as a worsening financial crisis made Americans anxious about their jobs and pessimistic about the future, a report said on Tuesday.

The Conference Board said its index measuring consumer sentiment tumbled to 38.0 in October from an upwardly revised 61.4 in September. That was the lowest reading since the index began in 1967. The previous low was 43.2 in December 1974.

"The sharp drop in the consumer confidence index shows that consumers have been really battered, and this last month in particular really took a toll on consumers' outlook," said Terrin Griffiths, economist and industry analyst at California Credit Union League in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

"It shows that consumers are seeing the downturn as having a longer duration."

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News
KEYWORDS: bush; lousy
Not what we want to hear...
1 posted on 10/28/2008 9:27:52 AM PDT by meandog
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To: meandog

Yet another discontinuity. If consumers were really behind Obama, wouldn’t this rating be going up? After all, the election is just a formality before the One takes charge and changes everything?


2 posted on 10/28/2008 9:32:02 AM PDT by Jagman (Don't tax me, bro!)
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To: meandog

Trade deficit = job deficit.

MAKE HERE - START NOW


3 posted on 10/28/2008 9:35:38 AM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: meandog

If consumer confidence is low now, just wait until “The One”. is elected. Are they going to call the tent cities Obamavilles or Barrack’s barracks(sp/).


4 posted on 10/28/2008 9:42:11 AM PDT by LottieDah (If only those who speak so eloquently on the rights of animals would do so on behalf of the unborn.)
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To: ex-snook

Good point. We need to return to the trade surpluses of the 1930’s.


5 posted on 10/28/2008 9:45:21 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

How about the trade surplus 50’s?


6 posted on 10/28/2008 9:48:44 AM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: ex-snook

As has been pointed out to you countless times, much of the industrial capacity of the developed world was still rubble in the 1950’s. Ours wasn’t.


7 posted on 10/28/2008 9:52:00 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

By jove you got it.


8 posted on 10/28/2008 9:55:10 AM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: meandog

Just wait til Christmas rolls around.....


9 posted on 10/28/2008 9:59:03 AM PDT by labowski ("The Dude Abideth")
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To: ex-snook

But I don’t think you do. Trade deficits rise when our economy expands, and fall when our economy contracts.


10 posted on 10/28/2008 10:05:52 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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Generally.


11 posted on 10/28/2008 10:06:41 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: meandog

Inversely proportional to the perception of an Obama win.


12 posted on 10/28/2008 10:14:17 AM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: ex-snook
Trade deficit = job deficit.

fwiw, there are actual head counts on jobs and tallies on trade.  If we went and dug out the numbers and showed them here, is there a chance they could they make a difference in your views, or have already made a decision on this without the numbers?

13 posted on 10/28/2008 12:49:25 PM PDT by expat_panama
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To: expat_panama

You can trot out all the macro numbers you want, consumer confidence has made the decision and voters will render their choice on their economy.


14 posted on 10/28/2008 1:31:30 PM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: ex-snook
Ah, that makes sense.   That "Trade deficit = job deficit" didn't have anything to do with trade and jobs, you were really just talking about consumers and voters.  So when your sweetheart Barry looses and consumer confidence goes up, what will you have really been talking about then?
15 posted on 10/28/2008 1:46:28 PM PDT by expat_panama
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To: expat_panama

Get real. News at 11. 11/4 that is. A wakeup call for those who think the economy is great for all because it is great for them. Majority rules.


16 posted on 10/28/2008 2:02:36 PM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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To: ex-snook
You can trot out all the macro numbers you want, consumer confidence has made the decision and voters will render their choice on their economy.

That's an interesting way of looking at the world. Why bother with data when we can vote on it instead? Let me get the ball rolling: I vote the Earth is flat.

17 posted on 10/28/2008 2:22:12 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy
Facts are hard, feelings are easy.

Maybe he's on the wrong site?

18 posted on 10/28/2008 2:27:10 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (When you said to me, you are not so old, did I know it then, 'cause I had just been told)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
Candidate for President A: "Vote for me and everyone gets pie."
Candidate for President B: "I don't think that's such a good idea."

After Candidate A wins: "See? It's not a bad idea after all."

19 posted on 10/28/2008 2:32:52 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

Voters vote on how well their economy is doing. If you want to win elections, that’s the objective. Majority determines.


20 posted on 10/28/2008 5:19:04 PM PDT by ex-snook ("But above all things, truth beareth away the victory.")
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