U.S. consumers’ sentiment reflects whether or not they believe in a quick recovery

Visit our interactive portal, Ipsos Consolidated Economic Indicators (IpsosGlobalIndicators.com) for graphic comparisons and trended data pertaining to the Ipsos Global Consumer Confidence Index and  sub-indices -- and all the questions on which they are based.

Washington, DC, May 1, 2020 — U.S. consumer sentiment shows a slight improvement for the second consecutive week. Based on a survey of nearly 1,000 U.S. adults conducted April 28-29, Ipsos’s Consumer Confidence index is up 0.8 point over last week. At 48.1, the index is currently at the same level as it was back in 2012 and about 13 points higher than in the months following the financial crisis of 2008.

The survey shows that Americans are nearly equally divided on whether the economy will recover quickly once the lockdown is over: 47% agree that it will be the case while 49% disagree. The two groups, nearly equal in size, have radically different views about the economic climate:

• Consumer confidence is remarkably high among those who believe the U.S. economy will rebound quickly as soon as drastic measures to limit the spreading of the coronavirus have been lifted.
• Among those who do not expect the economy to recover quickly, consumer sentiment is among the lowest ever recorded in the 18-year history of the index.

Detailed Findings

1. With an index score of 48.1, overall consumer confidence is up 0.8 from last week and at its highest point since it fell precipitously in the first half of March.

   1. However, the Confidence index remains 15 points lower than it was at the beginning of the year (63.4) and 12 points lower than it was in early March (60.1).
       

      

       

2. All other sub-indices show a small uptick over last week.

   1. While still 18 points below its level of early March, the Current index, indicative of sentiment about today’s economic environment is up 1 point.
   2. The Expectations index, indicative of Americans’ outlook about their personal financial situation, their local economy and employment, also records a 0.9-point uptick to 64.6. It is now at the same level as in the months preceding the 2016 election.
   3. The Investment index is up 1.5 point, but still down more than 13 points vs. early March.
   4. The Jobs index, indicative of the employment situation and outlook, is up 0.8 points over last week, but remains almost 17 points lower than it was in early March.
       

       

3. There is a 17-point gap in consumer confidence between one half (47%) of Americans who believe the economy will recover quickly once the lockdown is lifted and the other half (49%) who don’t.
   1. Among those who expect the economy to recover quickly, the Consumer Confidence index rings in at 56.6, the same level as in the weeks preceding the 2016 election. The Expectations index among this group is at 74.9, a level that is significantly higher than was ever recorded by the index among the total U.S. public in its 18-year history. The belief that the economy will turnaround fast is far more prevalent among Republicans (63%) than it is among Democrats (31%) and Independents (34%). It is also found by a majority of those with a household income of $100,000 or more (53%) and of residents of the South (51%).
   2. In contrast, among those who do not expect the economy to rebound quickly, the Consumer Confidence index score is strikingly lower, at 40.0. That is the level where the index among all U.S. adults was in 2009. The Expectations index among this segment is 55.5, on par with the level of the index among the entire U.S. public in 2011.
      
      
4. Americans are less likely to agree (37%) than to disagree (58%) that “we should restart the economy and allow businesses to open even if the virus is still not fully contained.”
   1. There is a great deal of political polarization around this statement: 54% of Republicans agree with it, compared to just 19% of Democrats and 35% of Independents.
   2. There is also a notable gender divide as 41% of males agree vs. only 32% of females. 
       

       

5. Compared to six months ago, 71% say they are less comfortable making a major purchase, like a home or car and 66% say they are less comfortable making another household purchase.
   1. These percentages are almost identical to those of the past five weeks and are both 23 points higher than in early March.

Questions

The data used for the Consumer Confidence index and sub-indices is based on the following questions:

1. Now, thinking about our economic situation, how would you describe the current economic situation in US? Is it… very good, somewhat good, somewhat bad or very bad?
2. Rate the current state of the economy in your local area using a scale from 1 to 7, where 7 means a very strong economy today and 1 means a very weak economy.
3. Looking ahead six months from now, do you expect the economy in your local area to be much stronger, somewhat stronger, about the same, somewhat weaker, or much weaker than it is now?
4. Rate your current financial situation, using a scale from 1 to 7, where 7 means your personal financial situation is very strong today and 1 means it is very weak
5. Looking ahead six months from now, do you expect your personal financial situation to be much stronger, somewhat stronger, about the same, somewhat weaker, or much weaker than it is now?
6. Compared to 6 months ago, are you NOW more or less comfortable making a major purchase, like a home or car?
7. Compared to 6 months ago, are you NOW more or less comfortable making other household purchases?
8. Compared to 6 months ago, are you NOW more or less confident about job security for yourself, your family and other people you know personally?
9. Compared to 6 months ago, are you NOW more or less confident of your ability to invest in the future, including your ability to save money for your retirement or your children’s education?
10. Thinking of the last 6 months, have you, someone in your family or someone else you know personally lost their job as a result of economic conditions?
11. Now look ahead at the next six months. How likely is it that you, someone in your family or someone else you know personally will lose their job in the next six months as a result of economic conditions?

Additional questions

1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following?
   1. The economy will recover quickly once the lockdown is over
   2. We should restart the economy and allow businesses to open even if the virus is still not fully contained

About the Study

These findings are based on data from an Ipsos survey conducted April 28-29, 2020 with a sample of 975 adults aged 18-74 from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii who were interviewed online in English. The sample was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel, partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2016 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Post-hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education.

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=970, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-5.0 percentage points).

Findings from previous time periods going back to March 2011 are based on data from Refinitiv /Ipsos’ Primary Consumer Sentiment Index (PCSI) collected in a monthly survey on Ipsos’ Global Advisor online survey platform with the same questions. For the PCSI survey, Ipsos interviews a total of 1,000+ U.S. adults aged 18-74. The Refinitiv/Ipsos Primary Consumer Sentiment Index (PCSI), ongoing since 2010, is a monthly survey of consumer attitudes on the current and future state of local economies, personal finance situations, savings and confidence to make large investments. The PCSI metrics reported each month consist of a “Primary Index” based on 10 questions available upon request and of several “sub-indices” each based on a subset of these 10 questions. Those sub-indices include a Current Index, an Expectations Index, an Investment Index and a Jobs Index.

Findings for January 2002- February 2011 are based on data from the RBC CASH Index, a monthly telephone survey of 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older conducted by Ipsos with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson
Vice President, U.S., Public Affairs
Ipsos
+1 202 420 2025
[email protected]

Kate Silverstein
Media Relations Specialist, U.S., Public Affairs
Ipsos
+1 718 755-8829
[email protected]

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