The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® increased in June to 109.7 (1985=100), up from 102.5 in May. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—rose to 155.3 (1985=100) from 148.9 last month. The Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—rose to 79.3 (1985=100) from 71.5 in May. Expectations have remained below 80—the level associated with a recession within the next year—every month since February 2022, with the exception of a brief uptick in December 2022. However, June’s reading was just a shade below 80 and up sharply from last month’s print.
“Consumer confidence improved in June to its highest level since January 2022, reflecting improved current conditions and a pop in expectations,” said Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board. “Greater confidence was most evident among consumers under age 35, and consumers earning incomes over $35,000. Nonetheless, the expectations gauge continued to signal consumers anticipating a recession at some point over the next 6 to 12 months.”
“Assessments of the present situation rose in June on sunnier views of both business and employment conditions. Indeed, the spread between consumers saying jobs are ‘plentiful’ versus ‘not so plentiful’ widened, indicating upbeat feelings about a labor market that continues to outperform. Likewise, expectations for the next six months improved materially, reflecting greater confidence about future business conditions and job availability.”
“While income expectations ticked down slightly in June, new questions included in this month’s release found a notably brighter outlook for consumers’ family finances: Around 30 percent expect their family’s financial situation to be ‘better’ in the next six months, compared to less than 14 percent expecting it to be ‘worse.’ This might reflect consumers’ belief that labor market conditions will remain favorable and that there will be further declines in inflation ahead. Indeed, the 12-month forward inflation expectations gauge fell to 6 percent in June, the lowest reading since December 2020.”
“Although the Expectations Index remained a hair below the threshold signaling recession ahead, a new measure found considerably fewer consumers now expect a recession in the next 12 months compared to May. Meanwhile, on a six-month moving average basis, plans to purchase autos and homes have slowed, after picking up earlier in 2023. This may reflect rising costs to finance big-ticket items as the Fed continues to raise interest rates. Meanwhile, vacation plans within the next six months continued to flag, led largely by declines in plans to travel domestically. This is an important indicator of desires to spend on services ahead, which may be a signal that post-pandemic ‘revenge spending’ on travel may have peaked and is likely to slow over the rest of this year.”
Present Situation
Consumers’ assessment of current business conditions was more positive in June.
Consumers’ appraisal of the labor market also improved.
Expectations Six Months Hence
Consumers were marginally more optimistic about the short-term business conditions outlook in June.
Consumers’ assessment about the short-term labor market outlook wasmore favorable.
Consumers’ short-term income prospects worsened in June.
Family’s Current Financial Situation
Consumers’ assessments of their current situation reflect largely healthy family finances in June.
Family’s Expected Financial Situation, Six Months Hence
Consumers’ expectations of their family finances in six months’ time reflect a relatively buoyant outlook.
Perceived Likelihood of a US Recession over the Next 12 Months
After rising steadily since August 2022, recession fears appear to have eased considerably in June.
The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, based on an online sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Toluna, a technology company that delivers real-time consumer insights and market research through its innovative technology, expertise, and panel of over 36 million consumers. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was June 20.
Source: June 2023 Consumer Confidence Survey®
The Conference Board
The Conference Board publishes the Consumer Confidence Index® at 10 a.m. ET on the last Tuesday of every month. Subscription information and the technical notes to this series are available on The Conference Board website: https://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerdata.cfm.
About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what’s ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.tcb.org.
The next release is Tuesday, July 25 at 10 AM ET.
For further information contact:
Joseph DiBlasi
781.308.7935
JDiBlasi@tcb.org
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