Market researcher Numerator, in reviewing results from its Consumer Sentiment Tracker, reported shopper confidence rebounded a bit in February after a slight January dip, coming in at 55.1, up 0.3 points month over month and above the 50 line separating positive and negative views on the economy.
In the Numerator tracker, 41% of consumers polled said they are comfortable spending money on discretionary purchases, a figure that has held steady from January and December as well. To save money in a still unsteady economy, 38% of consumers are cooking at home, with the same proportion shopping for items on sale and using coupons/discount codes, again consistent with January. As they considered their overall confidence in the current state of affairs, 49% of consumers said their household’s financial situation is currently good or very good, up one point from January, Numerator maintained.
When looking ahead, consumers are still wary about conditions, and their financial outlook dipped slightly in February, with shoppers having middling feelings about the future. Numerator’s February Financial Outlook Score was 52.7, down 0.4 points month over month. As the poll reviewed their view of the immediate future, more shoppers believed their finances would be better a year from now (26%) than those who believed they’ll be worse (21%). The majority of consumers (53% polled thought their finances would be the same.
Other Numerator findings include:
- 36% of consumers said it’s very or somewhat difficult to find employment in the current job market, up six points year over year.
- 32% of consumers said they are spending less overall.
- 34% of consumers with spare cash said they’re putting it in savings, with 31% paying down debts and 28% using it for vacationing or traveling.
- 12% of consumers said they do not have any spare cash.
