Richard Curtin Economic Quotations

Restoring consumer confidence becomes more than just a matter of economic stimulus. A renewal in confidence may also require the restoration of a sense of personal safety among large parts of the population.

Prospects for the economy have improved substantially from the lows recorded following the Gulf Coast hurricanes and the surge in gas prices. Firms still expect a slower overall pace of economic growth during 2006 than in 2005. The expected growth slowdown is mainly due to anticipated increases in interest rates. Firms are much more optimistic about their own prospects in 2006, as they expected strong growth in revenues and profits.

Consumers anticipated that higher interest rates will ultimately slow the overall pace of economic growth.

Although firms did expect a slightly slower pace of growth, they still judge overall economic conditions quite favorable.

The loss in people's sense of personal security was linked to the decline in consumer confidence. Unlike other assessments of economic risks, these fears represent a significant threat to the usual functioning of the economy.