Bloomberg Weekly Consumer Comfort Index

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort index fell last week to -50.8 from -50.2 a week earlier.

Following is a table with the latest survey results:

========================================================================
                   Oct. 9   Oct. 2 Sept. 25 Sept. 18 Sept. 11  Sept. 4
                     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011
========================================================================
Overall index       -50.8    -50.2    -53.0    -52.1    -49.3    -49.3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
State of Economy    -87.1    -84.3    -86.4    -88.9    -86.6    -88.7
 Positive Net           6        8        7        6        7        6
  Excellent             2        2        1        1        1        0
  Good                  5        6        6        5        6        5
 Negative Net          94       92       93       94       93       94
  Not-so Good          36       37       39       44       44       44
  Poor                 58       55       54       51       49       51
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

========================================================================
                   Oct. 9   Oct. 2 Sept. 25 Sept. 18 Sept. 11  Sept. 4
                     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011
========================================================================
Personal Finances   -11.5     -9.1    -11.6     -7.5     -0.7     -5.8
 Positive Net          44       46       44       46       50       47
  Excellent             6        6        5        5        5        5
  Good                 38       39       40       41       44       42
 Negative              56       55       56       54       50       53
  Not-so Good          34       36       38       39       35       32
  Poor                 22       18       18       15       16       21
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Buying Climate      -53.7    -57.3    -61.0    -59.9    -60.7    -53.5
 Positive Net          23       21       20       20       20       23
  Excellent             3        2        1        1        1        1
  Good                 20       19       19       19       18       22
 Negative              77       79       81       80       80       77
  Not-so Good          47       48       50       52       54       50
  Poor                 30       30       30       28       26       27

Demographic Data Follows (see ALLX COMF for data tickers):
========================================================================
                   Oct. 9   Oct. 2 Sept. 25 Sept. 18 Sept. 11  Sept. 4
                     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011
========================================================================
                 ------------------------ Sex ------------------------
 Men                -49.0    -48.5    -51.2    -51.3    -48.4    -47.5
 Women              -52.5    -51.8    -54.7    -52.8    -50.2    -51.1
                 ------------------------ Age ------------------------
18-34               -48.1    -47.7    -52.9    -52.9    -43.3    -49.1
35-44               -58.7    -53.5    -54.6    -52.4    -55.0    -46.3
45-54               -51.6    -50.5    -54.4    -52.4    -54.0    -55.3
55-64               -50.6    -54.0    -51.7    -52.8    -45.8    -41.4
65+                 -45.5    -47.6    -50.0    -49.2    -52.0    -53.8
                 ----------------------- Region ----------------------
NorthEast           -52.4    -45.0    -43.8    -40.1    -33.6    -41.7
MidWest             -55.0    -57.8    -54.7    -49.0    -45.4    -42.2
South               -44.6    -44.8    -53.6    -55.2    -57.1    -57.4
West                -55.4    -55.8    -57.8    -59.7    -53.6    -49.6
                 ------------------------ Race -----------------------
White               -49.5    -50.4    -51.5    -50.3    -49.6    -48.1
Black               -64.8    -54.4    -57.0    -59.9    -50.6    -60.9
========================================================================
                   Oct. 9   Oct. 2 Sept. 25 Sept. 18 Sept. 11  Sept. 4
                     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011
========================================================================
                 ----------------------- Income ----------------------
<$15K               -70.2    -64.8    -79.9    -80.4    -80.9    -90.8
$15K To $24.9K      -70.8    -70.6    -72.3    -77.8    -73.4    -69.9
$25K To $39.9K      -55.4    -63.5    -53.1    -55.0    -67.8    -51.9
$40K To $49.9K      -58.9    -55.9    -58.0    -56.8    -54.2    -63.6
$50K+               -39.5    -32.9    -35.2    -34.9    -27.9    -30.7
$50K To $74K        -63.0    -56.9    -54.3    -49.9    -36.2    -37.3
$75K To $99K        -38.6    -25.1    -28.6    -33.9    -27.7    -39.5
$100K+               -9.2     -7.6    -11.2    -13.7    -18.1    -18.2
                 ------------------ Political Party ------------------
Republican          -41.3    -39.3    -44.3    -39.1    -40.3    -48.4
Democrat            -42.8    -46.9    -52.9    -57.0    -58.3    -62.2
Independent         -60.9    -58.7    -55.1    -51.4    -44.1    -41.9
                 --------------------- Education ---------------------
<HS                 -60.4    -69.7    -74.1    -76.2    -79.6    -68.1
HS Grad             -63.2    -63.0    -63.8    -63.3    -53.2    -51.4
Coll+               -40.1    -36.2    -40.0    -38.9    -38.9    -43.4
========================================================================
                   Oct. 9   Oct. 2 Sept. 25 Sept. 18 Sept. 11  Sept. 4
                     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011     2011
========================================================================
                 ------------------- Homeownership -------------------
Own                 -50.2    -48.7    -49.5    -47.1    -45.4    -45.5
Rent                -52.9    -55.1    -63.0    -65.6    -61.6    -62.6
                 ------------------- Martial Status ------------------
Single              -50.0    -47.4    -57.2    -59.6    -53.4    -53.2
Married             -47.8    -47.9    -48.0    -45.2    -43.9    -43.6
Sep/Wid/Div         -60.7    -60.6    -60.2    -58.8    -59.1    -61.7
                 --------------------- Employment --------------------
Full-Time           -45.2    -42.0    -41.3    -41.4    -38.0    -36.2
Part-Time           -56.7    -64.8    -72.2    -62.3    -60.1    -53.5
Not Employed        -54.7    -55.1    -61.1    -61.4    -59.5    -61.6
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Polarization index: This is the difference in consumer confidence
between Democrats and Republicans. The larger the absolute figure,
the greater the divergence in confidence.
Dem.-Rep. Spread     -1.5     -7.6     -8.6    -17.9    -18.0    -13.8
========================================================================

The CCI is reported in a four-week rolling average; this week’s results are based on telephone interviews among a random national sample of 1,000 adults in the four weeks ending Oct. 9. The results have a 3-point error margin. Field work by SSRS/Social Science Research Solutions of Media, Pa.

The index is derived by subtracting the negative response to each index question from the positive response to that question. The three resulting numbers are added and divided by three.

The index can range from +100 (everyone positive on all three measures) to -100 (all negative on all three measures). The survey began in December 1985.

Survey questions: Would you describe the state of the nation’s economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

Considering the cost of things today and your own personal finances, would you say now is an excellent time, a good time, a not so good time or a poor time to buy the things you want and need?

SOURCE: Bloomberg News

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Tanzi in Washington at atanzi@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Marco Babic at mbabic@bloomberg.net