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Consumer confidence falls
Conference Board's index in surprise November drop to 90.5 from revised 92.9 in October.
November 30, 2004: 10:32 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The confidence of U.S. consumers worsened in November, a research firm said Tuesday, with the number falling well below Wall Street's expectations.

The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell to 90.5 from a revised 92.9 reading in October, a fourth consecutive monthly decline.

Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast a rise to 96.8.

Consumer confidence is considered a barometer in consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of the U.S. economy, and is the broadest measure of U.S. economic output.

The survey of 5,000 U.S. households by the New York-based business research group found more concern about future economic conditions than about the current state of the economy. The expectations index sank to 87.4 from 92.72, while the present situation index rose to 95.2 from 94.

People are a bit more pessimistic on the job market. The percentage of consumers saying jobs are "plentiful" dipped to 16.8 percent from 17.4 percent in October, while the percentage claiming jobs are "hard to get" rose to 28.1 percent from 27.9 percent.

Those expecting fewer jobs in the coming months rose to 19.7 percent from 18.3 percent, while those who see more jobs ahead was mostly unchanged from October's reading.

Those who expect their incomes to improve in the months ahead fell to 18.5 percent from 19 percent last month.  Top of page




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