The Numerator Consumer Sentiment Tracker indicated shopper outlook brightened in December, with a majority of those surveyed reporting solid household finances.
Consumer confidence increased in December versus November with growing levels of comfort across the board, Numerator stated. The December Consumer Confidence Score — an average of how consumers feel about the job market — their household finances and their spending comfort level, came in at 57.8, up 1.5 points from November.
The 50% mark is the divider between positive or negative sentiments in the tracker study.
In terms of how they view their current circumstances, 51% of consumers responding to the market researcher’s study characterized their current household financial situation as good or very good.
In other results, Numerator stated:
- 43% of consumers are very or somewhat comfortable spending money on discretionary purchases currently.
- 42% of consumers are shopping for sales items to save money, while 41% are using coupons/discount codes.
- 40% of consumers are cooking at home to save cash.
- 37% of consumers with spare cash are putting it in savings with 35% paying down debts.
- 28% said they were using spare cash to vacation or travel.
- 12% of consumers said they do not have any spare cash.
- 38% of consumers think it’s very or somewhat easy to find employment in the job market as it stands now.
The study’s December Financial Outlook Score was 56.5, down 0.9 from November but still indicating consumers felt positive about their household finances. Asked to look at prospects a year from now, 32% of consumers involved in the study said they anticipate their finances will be better than they are now, while 49% believed they would be the same and 19% believed they would be worse.
