Here are four charts reflecting confidence survey readings. These are from the SentimenTrader.com site.
I find these charts valuable as they provide a long-term history of each survey, which is rare.
Each survey chart is plotted in blue, below the S&P500:
(click on each chart to enlarge image)
Conference Board Consumer Confidence, last updated 9-28-10:
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University of Michigan Consumer Confidence, last updated 10-15-10:
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ABC News Consumer Comfort Index, last updated 10-7-10:
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NFIB Small Business Optimism, last updated 10-21-10:
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As one can see, these charts continue to show subdued readings, especially when viewed from a long-term perspective.
These charts should be interesting to monitor going forward. Although I don’t believe that confidence surveys should be overemphasized, they do help to delineate how the economic environment is being perceived.
A Special Note concerning our economic situation is found here
SPX at 1180.26 as this post is written