US Home prices increased in the second quarter while consumer confidence alos jumped more than expected. … [ visit site to read more ]

As well all know, consumers are 70% of the economy, so their confidence is core to their spending. This morning, the latest consumer confidence figures came out, and they didn't just beat the high end of the consensus - - they knocked them out of the park. Naturally, the markets shot higher, ...

Let's start with the confidence numbers: The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index ®, which had retreated in July, rebounded in August. The Index now stands at 54.1 (1985=100), up from 47.4 in July. The Present Situation Index increased slightly to 24.9 from 23.3 last month. ...

10:15am EDT: I just used the obviously inane consumer confidence numbers to bulk up on more puts - got some nice fills there. Giggidy - giggidy - goooh! Meanwhile in the murky depths of the currency pits the ole’ buck is hanging on - so far so good. Again, a breach of the ...

Marketwatch reports: U.S. consumers' mood brightened considerably in August, as their expectations about the near future were the most optimistic since the recession began, the Conference Board reported Tuesday. The consumer confidence index rose to 54.1 in August from 47.4 in July. Economists ...

Market Wrap-Up News that home-price declines are starting to abate, consumer confidence is on the rise and Ben Bernanke has been tapped for a second term as Fed chairman gave investors a renewed sense of confidence Tuesday, helping to briefly push the Dow to a 10-month high of 9600. The Dow ...

Only in a world as insane as ours can a survey of 5000 people create or destroy billions of dollars of wealth. Redbook figures dont support this consumer confidence number: Year-over-year: Week (w/e 8/22/09 vs year ago) -4.4 pct Year-over-year: Month (August 2009 ...

The U.S. Gross Domestic Product data, coupled with the closely related to it consumer spending and consumer confidence releases, will take the center stage in the week ahead and could play the crucial role of providing further impetus to the market’s rally or may serve as a catalyst for ...