Consumer Comfort Gauge Signals Severe Discontent For Fifth Week

Consumer confidence in the U.S. was little changed last week, hovering near an eight-month low, as Americans struggled with rising gasoline prices and elevated unemployment.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index was at minus 46.5 in the period ended Sept. 2 compared with minus 47.3 in the prior week. It was the fifth consecutive week the index has registered a reading lower than minus 40, a level typically associated with severe economic discontent.

A ninth consecutive weekly advance brought gasoline prices to the highest level in four months, giving households reason to be concerned about their finances. The dreary views are prompting retailers and manufacturers such as General Motors Co. (GM) to use promotions to entice customers.

“Despite very aggressive discounting from retailers and General Motors that have bolstered retail sales, households remain quite pessimistic on the state of the economy and their own personal finances,” said Joseph Brusuelas, a senior economist with Bloomberg LP in New York. Read more >>