Consumer confidence rises in Dec, but still weak

[FrenchieCat]

NEW YORK – Americans are ending 2009 feeling better about the economy than when the year began, buoyed by optimism that job prospects will improve in the first half of 2010.

If past recoveries from recession are a guide, the rebound of confidence will take many more months.

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose in December for the second month in a row, to 52.9, from a revised 50.6 in November.

That's slightly higher than the 52.0 prediction of economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters, but still far short of the 90 that would signify a solid economy.

Economists watch the confidence numbers closely because consumer spending on goods and services accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity as measured by the federal government.

Without a marked turnaround in the job market, consumers will continue to "hunker down" and confidence will remain low, Vitner said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091229/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

1. Smoke and mirrors. Unrec.

[FrenchieCat]

2. The consumer confidence index going up is a bad thing?

I only though Republicans in a year during a steepdownturn,
with a Democratic administration would insist on that.

Or perhaps a bunch of folks who have a need to be proven right,
from all of the sky is falling they have been preaching all last year,
and don't really care about unintended consequences of what
that would mean for this country not to recover.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

4. I wish only that others would prepare for the Economic hit that is coming to us. I've had 14 months

to prepare. I want the people of this Nation to see just what is coming down the pike at them. Should the currently ignorant not also be given some time to prepare?

OR NOT.

[FrenchieCat]

6. So unreccing a thread about increased consumer confidence is preparing

others for an economic downturn?

Hell, if it was that easy,
I'd be all over the board unrec'ing like crazy.

Sounds like you are one of those doom and gloomers
who's been saying the sky is falling
every since the stimulus bill was passed.

Hell, even the economists who were there with you then,
have come quite a ways since.
Seem like you would at least join your comrades,
and not hold out so long.

But ok....as you wish.
Go at it with unrecc'ing threads at abandon to forwarn of
what terrible things are coming....
as though folks ain't already been living it for the past year. :eyes:

Certainly could happen,
I just try not to keep my fingers crossed,
cause I'm not superstitious.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

7. I'd guess you are with "OR NOT" category.

Good luck with that.

[Cha]

3. Baby steps after the bushcheney wrecking of America.

So easy to sit back on your ass and say "unrec, smoke and mirrors" while others are out there actually trying to help the Economy.

[Undercurrent]

5. Good news

on the long road to recovery after the savaging of the economy by the last administration.

K&R

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. I heard lots of good news like this on NPR today. The "un-recking" crew..

may keep this off the greatest page at DU, but the news is getting out there. DU is a bubble, and doesn't affect anything in the real world. Great post.

[girl gone mad]

9. The "rise" was w/in the MOE and will likely be revised downward.

This is precisely the type of propaganda we regularly take issue with here in the economy forum.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

10. We?

You and who else? Michael Steele?