Prosper Research's monthly
tracking of consumer attitudes has it's up's and down's this month:
- Those very confident or confident in chances for a strong economy
wobble in May, decreasing slightly to 39 percent. With the up / down
action we’ve been seeing with confidence this year, it’s evident that
consumers are struggling with feelings of uncertainty regarding the
economy.
- Eight out of ten consumers feels that there will be “more” or the
“same” number of pink slips handed out over the next six months,
increasing slightly over a year ago. So even as the official US
unemployment rate continues to decline, consumers seem unable to quell
their concerns.
- Consumers are feeling uncertain about employment because their guts
are telling them what the numbers are telling us – the unemployment rate
is down because the opportunities are slim and an increasing number of
capable, working age adults are being labeled “discouraged” – and are
lost from the labor force as a result.
- It appears that, at least in recent months, consumers have become a
bit more comfortable in their ability to meet monthly spending demands,
with a decreasing number of consumers saying that there’s too much month at the end of their paychecks “all” or “most of the time.”
- However, more than a quarter of adults 18+ reported that they are feeling “worse off” financially compared to a year ago.
- And, while consumers may feel that they are getting better at
handling their month to month expenditures, it appears they may be doing
so at the expense of their savings, with the US personal saving rate
currently remaining at lows not seen since just before the Great
Recession.
- New discoveries from our Analytics Unit provide support that
happiness increases with age. Members of the Silent generation rank as
the happiest in America followed by Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials.
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