The Numerator Consumer Sentiment Tracker indicated confidence readings took a more optimistic turn in December, with considerations regarding the job market, household finances and spending comfort levels improving.
Despite that, consumers remain careful with their cash, according to Numerator. To save money, the market research company noted, four in 10 consumers are shopping for items on sale, 39% are using coupons/discount codes and 38% are cooking at home. Overall, 33% of consumers said they’ve been spending less overall.
Numerator’s December Consumer Confidence Score was 54.9, up one point from November and above the 50 score that separates positive from negative sentiments.
In the Numerator tracker survey:
- 36% of consumers said it’s very or somewhat difficult to find employment in the current job market, down one point from November and up eight points year over year.
- 48% of consumers said their household’s financial situation is currently good or very good, up two points from November and down three points from the same month in 2025.
- 41% of consumers said they are very or somewhat comfortable spending money on discretionary purchases right now, up two points from November and down two points year over year.
Consumers who said they have spare cash indicated that they’re putting it in savings (35%) and paying down debts, (33%), while 13% of consumers said they didn’t have any spare cash.
Financial outlook continued to rebound in December after a sharp slide in October, with consumers feeling neutral about their future finances, Numerator noted. The December Financial Outlook Score was 52.2, up 3.1 points from November. In thinking about prospects one year from now, more consumers said their finances will be better a year from now (27%) than those who think they’ll be worse (23%), a reversal from the prior two months.
