Summary While there are plenty of shortages throughout the economy, there is no scarcity when it comes to factors that could be weighing on confidence. Inflation is as high as it has been in a generation, financial markets remain choppy and the usual stress that comes with the holiday season is complicated by an ever-changing virus and evolving guidance about how to best contain it.
The Job Market has Never Been Better, So Why the Long Face?
Consumer confidence ticked down to 109.5 in November as both the present situation and expectations measures fell slightly. It is too early for this slip to be attributable to the Omicron variant, though rising COVID case counts in November may well have been a factor. While there are plenty of shortages throughout the economy, there is no shortage of factors that could be weighing on confidence. Inflation (see below) is as high as it has been in a generation, financial markets (while generally still supportive of confidence) remain choppy and the usual stress that comes with the holiday season is complicated by an ever-changing virus and evolving guidance about how to best contain it. READ FULL ARTICLE>>