Consumer Confidence Surge

January 25, 2011

A ten percent jump in consumer confidence suggests Floridians are feeling better about the economy and their own finances. The University of Florida’s latest index of statewide consumer moods registered that surge even as unemployment remains at near record highs. Yet researchers did not expect so much confidence.

Chris McCarty/UF survey researcher: “I don’t think this is a sustainable number. I don’t think the stock market alone can carry consumer confidence because we do a survey that’s representative and for most people their big assets really are in their house.”

Florida’s housing market remains sluggish and experts say inflation could become a big factor in 2011 with the price of gas and basic food on the rise. But what happens with jobs holds the key.

Chris McCarty/UF survey researcher: “What a lot of people point to is the fact that companies are sitting on record amounts of cash. They’re in a position to do hiring. The question is whether or not they’re going to and if they do, what kind of hiring are they going to do.”

Sustained gains by the US stock market get some of the credit for increases in all five components of the index. Perceptions of US economic conditions over the next year went up the most.