The just released Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® declined slightly in October, after increasing sharply in September. While consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved, expectations declined due to the short-term job outlook. Join this podcast with Conference Board Chief Economist Dana Peterson and Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators to understand the story behind the numbers and what our experts foresee for the final months of 2020.

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index increased 15.5 points for September.

Consumer Confidence declined for the second consecutive month and now stands at 84.8 down from 91.7 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased sharply, while pessimism about the short-term outlook continued to grow. Concerns amongst consumers about the economic outlook and their financial well-being will likely cause spending to cool in the months ahead.

One of the categories that experiences the largest decline in a typical recession is consumer spending on goods. The US is now enduring the worst recession in 80 years: Employment in July was about 13 million below February’s number while GDP dropped by 11 percent in the first half of 2020. Yet in June, consumer spending on goods was 5 percent above pre-Covid-19 levels. Why?

Margaret Murphy, Digital Media Programme Manager at the Conference Board, interviews our resident Senior Economist for Europe, Ilaria Maselli about the consumer confidence results in Europe for Q2.

Large declines were experienced in Michigan, Florida, Texas and California, a result of the resurgence of COVID-19. Looking ahead, consumers have grown less optimistic about the short-term outlook for the economy and labor market and remain subdued about their financial prospects. Such uncertainty about the short-term future does not bode well for the recovery, nor for consumer spending.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index sees its biggest rise this month since 2011, yet still remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The index reveals consumers are less pessimistic about the short-term outlook, but fear an uneven and uncertain economic recovery amid virus concerns. Join Chief Economist Bart van Ark, and Senior Director of Economic Indicators, Lynn Franco, as they discuss the monthly numbers.

The economic shock from the COVID-19 pandemic has sent unemployment rates to levels not seen since the Great Depression. In response, Congress enacted—on a temporary basis—one of the largest expansions of unemployment benefits in US history. With the expiration of some of those changes approaching, Michele Evermore, Senior Policy Analyst at the National Election Law Project joins to discuss changes in unemployment benefits over time, the pandemic response, and the decisions policymakers face

COVID-19 has radically changed how people around the globe conduct their work. While some workers have returned to their places of work, every day more organizations announce they are asking employees to continue working from home. For many workers, remote work may become a standard, at least for the next several years. Some people are thrilled with no commutes, wearing pajama pants, and having no colleagues drop in to chat for what can become an extended time. But, I invite you, especially if y

During the global pandemic, how business manages its employee experience has become the most important driver of overall corporate and brand reputation.