Main Topic: U.S. consumer confidence increases to a two-year high in July, but mixed signals persist.
Key Points:
1. Consumers remain fearful of a recession due to interest rate hikes.
2. Consumers plan to buy motor vehicles and houses, but fewer anticipate purchasing major household appliances.
3. Consumers intend to spend less on discretionary services but expect to increase spending on healthcare and streaming services.
German consumer confidence is expected to decrease in September due to persistently high inflation rates and a lack of clear upward or downward trend in the consumption climate.
Consumer confidence in the US fell in August due to concerns about inflation, reversing the optimism from the past two months, according to The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index.
Consumer confidence fell in August 2023, erasing back-to-back increases in June and July, as consumers expressed concerns about rising prices, employment conditions, and future business prospects amidst a cooling labor market and high interest rates.
Consumer confidence in the United States has plummeted as high prices and interest rates deter spending, with the Conference Board's consumer confidence index falling to 106.1 in August from a revised 114 in July.
US consumer confidence dropped to 106.1 in August from 114 in the previous month, reversing gains made in June and July, with economists blaming higher gasoline prices as a key factor behind the decline.
Canada is facing a deep crisis due to a housing crisis, rising consumer debt, and high interest rates, which are causing unaffordability and financial vulnerability for working people, while the government's plan to address these challenges remains unclear.
Consumer confidence is dropping despite a strong economy, leading to questions about the factors influencing sentiment.
Americans are experiencing a "vibecession" as consumer sentiment remains low despite a healthy market, but the link between sentiment and economic indicators has been severed since the COVID-19 pandemic, making predictions inaccurate.
Canada's economy is struggling and heading towards a recession, with declining incomes and high household debt, leading to growing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Trudeau and his government.
The personal lens of individuals' financial well-being is a significant factor in how they rate the national economy, with inflation and high prices being major concerns, leading to a lagging personal recovery for many Americans since the pandemic, which impacts their assessment of the economy; furthermore, individuals who are struggling financially today tend to give worse ratings of the U.S. economy compared to those in similar positions in 2019, which contributes to President Biden's low economy and inflation ratings.
Americans are feeling uncertain about the economy's direction and are starting to worry about a possible government shutdown, as consumer sentiment dips in September due to concerns about inflation and higher gas prices.
Financial uncertainty has become the new normal for many Canadians as inflation erodes savings, according to a survey by RBC, while the US Federal Reserve maintains interest rates but projects a further rate increase by the end of the year and a tighter monetary policy through 2024, and the family of a North Carolina man sues Google for negligence after he drove off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions.
The Canadian economy has entered a long-delayed recession due to highly indebted households, overvalued home prices, and a slowdown in consumer spending, with the recession expected to last until the first quarter of 2024 and result in a 1.5% decline in GDP and an increase in the unemployment rate to 7.2%.
The market is facing uncertainties due to a long list of negatives that have yet to be fully discounted, including concerns about the economy, higher interest rates, a possible government shutdown, an auto strike, high oil prices, and the restart of student loan payments.
Consumer confidence in the US fell for the second consecutive month in September 2023, with the Expectations Index dropping below the recession threshold, reflecting concerns about rising prices, the political situation, and higher interest rates. Assessments of the present situation were relatively unchanged, while expectations for business conditions, job availability, and incomes declined. Concerns about the current and future financial situation of families also increased.
The consumer confidence of American consumers decreased in September, particularly in regards to future expectations, amid concerns of elevated interest rates and a potential recession within a year.
The current state of the consumer is concerning as wages are not keeping up with inflation, excess savings from the pandemic have been depleted, and increasing levels of credit card debt are making it difficult to maintain spending levels, leading to potential economic headwinds.
The gloom in the markets continues as German and Spanish inflation data, European consumer confidence data, and the potential government shutdown in the US fail to lift investor sentiment.
Canada's manufacturing sector experienced a deepening downturn in September, reaching its lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic, due to weak market demand impacting production and new orders.
The pandemic-driven surge in housing prices may weaken further if borrowing costs continue to rise, putting heavily indebted countries like Canada, Australia, Norway, and Sweden at risk of defaults, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Although falling home prices are unlikely to trigger a financial crisis like the 2008 recession, it could have a negative impact on the economic outlook and necessitate intervention by policymakers.