Lynn Franco Strong Quotations

With unemployment at a 30-year low and the short-term Conference Board forecast projecting favorable labor market conditions, confidence is expected to remain strong through the summer. Volatile financial markets and interest rate hikes are not expected to have a significant impact.

Growing optimism about the overall health of the economy continues to bolster consumers' short-term outlook. But consumers' assessment of current conditions, which strongly hinges on improvements in the labor market, remains both weak and volatile.

Consumers' confidence has been bolstered by the improvement in business and labor market conditions, ... The latest gains are striking. This new boom in confidence should translate into increased consumer spending and stronger economic growth ahead.

Consumer confidence readings continue to indicate a strong overall economy. Consumers are not only optimistic about current conditions, but their expectations for the next six months signal continued low unemployment and minimal inflationary pressures.