The Marketing Minute: Marketing With Layers
The Right Approach: Electro-Tek—A Williams Family Legacy, Part 1
It’s Only Common Sense: If You’re Not Differentiated, You’re Dead
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Declined in December
December 28, 2018 | The Conference BoardEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index decreased in December, following a modest decline in November. The Index now stands at 128.1 (1985=100), down from 136.4 in November. The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – declined slightly, from 172.7 to 171.6. The Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions – decreased from 112.3 last month to 99.1 this month.
The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was December 13.
“Consumer Confidence decreased in December, following a moderate decline in November,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Expectations regarding job prospects and business conditions weakened, but still suggest that the economy will continue expanding at a solid pace in the short-term. While consumers are ending 2018 on a strong note, back-to-back declines in Expectations are reflective of an increasing concern that the pace of economic growth will begin moderating in the first half of 2019.”
Consumers’ assessment of current conditions declined slightly in December. The percentage of consumers saying business conditions are “good” decreased from 42% to 37.2%, while those claiming business conditions are “bad” increased from 10.7% to 11.3%. Consumers’ assessment of the labor market was mixed. Those claiming jobs are “plentiful” decreased marginally from 46.8% to 46.2%, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” declined from 12.6% to 11.6 percent.
Consumers’ optimism about the short-term future fell in December. The percentage of consumers expecting business conditions will improve over the next six months decreased from 21.9% to 18.3%, while those expecting business conditions will worsen increased, from 8.3% to 9.7%.
Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was also less favorable. The proportion expecting more jobs in the months ahead decreased from 22.7% to 16.6%, while those anticipating fewer jobs increased, from 11.2% to 14.4%. Regarding their short-term income prospects, the percentage of consumers expecting an improvement declined from 23.2% to 22.4%, while the proportion expecting a decrease rose, from 7.2% to 7.7%.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Our Legislative Outlook: PCB007 Magazine October 2025 Issue
10/16/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamMost agree that we are experiencing an unprecedented time in global business and economics, with rules and laws that open doors to business but can complicate operations and make profitability more challenging. This month, PCB007 Magazine features some of today’s leading experts on legislative issues affecting the electronics industry, including rules and laws, trade, sustainability, business expansion, grants, and more in the U.S., Europe, and China.
It’s Only Common Sense: Stop Whining About the Market—Outwork It
10/06/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseWhenever the market hiccups or the industry cycle dips, I hear the same tired chorus: “The market is down. Customers aren’t buying. What can we do? We just have to wait it out.” Nonsense. If you think that by showing up, opening your doors, and waiting for the economy to smile kindly upon you, that success will follow, you are in the wrong business. Worse yet, you’re living in the wrong mindset. Most people don’t want to hear the truth that winners find business in down cycles. Losers blame the economy.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: 'A View from the Top: Moving from Success to Significance'
10/02/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfOnce in a while, a book comes along that reminds you why you started down this road of business and leadership. Zig Ziglar’s "A View from the Top" is that book. It’s not just about business and motivation. It’s about living a life that counts—for your family, your company, your community, and yourself. Ziglar delivers this book in his typical fashion, with the punch of hard-earned wisdom, a bit of humor, and a lot of common sense.
Punching Out: Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Buyers for PCB/EMS Shops
09/24/2025 | Tom Kastner -- Column: Punching Out!A growing trend in the U.S. is the rise of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) buyers for every business under the sun. Just as private equity firms have been active in a wide range of industries, ETA buyers have picked up their interest in both PCB and EMS companies.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/12/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007We may be post-Labor Day, but it is still hot-hot-hot here in the great state of Arizona—much like our news cycles, which have continued to snap, crackle, and pop with eye-raising headlines over this past week. In broader global tech news this week, AI and tariff-type restrictions continues to dominate with NVIDIA raising its voice against U.S. lawmakers pushing chip restrictions, ASML investing in a Dutch AI start-up company to the tune of $1.5 billion, and the UAE joining the ranks of the U.S. and China in embracing “open source” with their technology in hopes of accelerating their AI position.