Consumer Comfort in U.S. Jumps to Highest Level Since September

(Bloomberg) -- Americans' sentiment last week climbed to the strongest level since early September on more upbeat views about the economy and personal finances after passage of tax cut legislation, according to the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index released Thursday.

Key Takeaways

The gain in confidence, the first in three weeks, shows Americans are upbeat about the economy as stocks rally, unemployment lingers near a 17-year low and property values increase. The gauge of sentiment about the economy is now at its second-highest level since 2001. What's more, Republican households were particularly optimistic about their financial situation following passage of the tax cut package.

Other Details

• Sentiment among Republicans increased to the highest reading since May 2007; gap between GOP and Democrats favors Republicans by the widest margin in almost a decade
• Comfort among men climbed to a six-week high; women's gauge recouped some of previous week's slide
• Comfort gauge of consumers in the South advanced to the highest since April 2007; West at five-week high
• Those surveyed who had less than a high-school education were the most optimistic since April 2007

To contact the reporter on this story: Katia Dmitrieva in Washington at edmitrieva1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Scott Lanman at slanman@bloomberg.net, Vince Golle, Brendan Murray

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