Consumers slowly show signs of springing back

[TomCADem]

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK — Signs of life in consumer spending are sprouting this spring.

A partial rebound in consumer confidence, a positive report on January home prices and an expected strong March from retailers suggest Americans are cautiously perking up.

The Conference Board said Tuesday its Consumer Confidence Index rose to 52.5 in March, recovering about half of the nearly 11 points it lost in February. Analysts expected a reading of 50 for March, but the index is still far below the 90 reading that's considered healthy.

February's 46.4 marked the lowest level since April 2009 and also erased three consecutive months of improvement. In January, the reading was 56.5.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNiyJ905Ho0Ur96V2TQhsBX19lGwD9EP47680

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The numbers where I work are improving, but no one is hiring still. Instead, we are just working harder with less people. You know how it is. Work smarter, not harder!

[defendandprotect]

1. Evidently drawing on savings to buy necessities? We need JOBS . . .

and we need a SUPERFUND for the unemployed --

raise it from taxes on corporations/elites who so heavily profited over the

last recession/depression!

[seabeckind]

2. Cannot sustain an economy on consumerism alone n/t

[ixion]

3. Consumers are dead in the water

they just haven't admitted it to themselves yet.