Ratings of Finances Up, But Confidence Lays Low

Aug. 11, 2009 — -- Americans are feeling a little better about their finances, but consumer confidence is stuck in the doldrums.

Forty-seven percent rate their personal finances positively, the best in three months. But the ABC News Consumer Comfort Index sits at -47 on its scale of +100 to -100, a dismal rating compared with the long-term average of -12 in 23 years of weekly polls.

Click here for PDF with charts and data table.

The Obama administration has recently tried to paint a picture of an economy on the mend, highlighting the slowing pace of job losses and a piece of legislation – the "cash-for-clunkers" program – that's responsible for increased auto sales. But most retailers reported paltry sales in July, and statistics released last week by the Fed suggest Americans are concentrating on eliminating debt rather than buying new things.

INDEX – It looks as if those trends may continue, with just 25 percent saying it's an excellent or good time to buy things. Positive ratings of the buying climate have been stuck in a 5-point range this year and this week are 12 points below average.

Of the index's three components – ratings of the national economy, the buying climate and personal finances – ratings of the economy have shown the least movement this year. They've also been the most negative. Only 8 percent say the economy is in excellent or good shape, in single digits for a record 41 of the past 44 weeks. Positive ratings of the economy are 30 points below average.

At 47 percent positive, ratings of personal finances are the best of the three components as usual but are 10 points below average.

TREND – Consumer confidence has zigged and zagged recently but is on an upward trajectory overall this summer; it's risen 6 points since June 21, when it fell to -53 – a point from the all-time low. The advancement may be a relief, but the CCI remains in record-low territory: Never before has confidence been below -40 for 68 weeks straight. It hasn't seen positive territory since March 2007.

The index is averaging -49 this year, compared with its long-term average of -12. Its record high was +38 in January 2000. The index is on pace for its worst year, 5 points under its lowest full-year average, -44 in 1992.