Consumer Confidence Surges

[The Finman]

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<h2><font color=#003399>Consumer Confidence Surges </font></h2>
NEW YORK --- Signs of improvement in the job market triggered a rebound in a measure of consumers' confidence in the economy in October, a private research group reported Tuesday.

Lynn Franco, director of the board's consumer research center, said a brightening job market was a "major factor" in the rebound, as was growing hope that employment trends would continue to improve.

The report was released the same day that the Commerce Department (search) delivered another dose of good news for the economy with a report showing that new orders for durable goods rebounded in September.

The figure, which rose by 0.8 percent, reflected stronger demand for a wide variety of goods, including cars, communications equipment and machinery.

The Conference Board's indexes were derived from responses received through Oct. 21 to a survey mailed to 5,000 households in a consumer research panel.

The Conference Board also reported that an indicator measuring consumers' appraisal of current economic conditions rose in October following five consecutive months of decline.

Consumers' short-term business outlook and the outlook on job conditions also improved.


Full Article <font color="red"><u>Here</u></font>