UMich Consumer Confidence Slides In November As Faith In Stocks Falters

Having hit the highest level since Jan 2004 in October, November’s final print shows the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index fell from 100.7 to 98.5, as both hope and current conditions slipped.

Expewctations for inflation dipped. Consumers saw inflation rate in the next year at 2.5 percent after 2.4 percent the prior month. Inflation rate over next five to 10 years seen at 2.4 percent, lowest since May, after 2.5 percent in October

“Increased certainty about future income and job prospects has become a key factor that has supported discretionary purchases,” Richard Curtin, director of the University of Michigan consumer survey, said in a statement.

“The data indicate that neither changes in fiscal nor monetary policies have yet had any noticeable impact on consumer expectations.”

The data signal consumer spending will rise 2.7 percent in 2018, adjusted for inflation, as well as “the best runup to the holiday shopping season in a decade,” the report said.

Finally we note that faith in the stock market faltered modestly…