Newly buoyant views regarding the state of the country’s economy are being seen in the latest findings of a just-released Economic Optimism Index survey.
With readings above the 50 level reflecting optimism, the survey, measuring consumer confidence, is now at 55.4.
That figure not only represents a 3.5 point increase in the last month, it is also the highest reading produced by the index since the month before the pandemic outbreak in early 2020.
Conducted by the publication Investor’s Business Daily, the survey reflects the thoughts and attitudes of nearly 1,300 adults interviewed during the final days of February.
According to the publication, the latest upward numbers come “as the vaccine rollout continues and Americans anticipate another round of stimulus checks.”
“Stimulus and vaccine optimism are helping to buoy consumer confidence as Americans look past the current weakness in the U.S. economy,” the publication continued.
The survey additionally notes that beyond their feelings about the economy, respondents were feeling upbeat in general about everything, with a 52.7 reading agreeing that the country was heading in the right direction.
That reading represented a 7.1 jump since the last survey, and was the index’s first positive read in this category since the late summer of 2018.
Three categories make up the Economic Optimism Index, which is conducted in conjunction with the TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics: views of the economy’s near-term prospects, personal finance outlooks, and general views regarding how well government economic policies are succeeding.
The latest index additionally shows marked optimism regarding the short-term six-month outlook for the nation’s economy, with a 53.2 reading. That result is dramatically up from the index’s July 2020 showing of 37.3.
By Garry Boulard
