Economic gains boost US confidence to 5-year high

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER and MARTIN CRUTSINGER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Home prices are surging, job growth is strengthening and stocks are setting record highs. All of which explains why Americans are more hopeful about the economy than at any other point in five years.

Investors on Tuesday celebrated the latest buoyant reports on consumer confidence and housing prices, which together suggest that growth could accelerate in the second half of 2013.

Greater confidence could spur people to spend more and help offset tax increases and federal spending cuts. And the fastest rise in home prices in seven years might lead more Americans to put houses on the market, easing supply shortages that have kept the housing recovery from taking off.

Tuesday's report from the Conference Board, a private research group, showed that consumer confidence jumped in May to a reading of 76.2, up from 69 in April. That's the highest level since February 2008, two months after the Great Recession officially began.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130528/DA6IHPNO0.html

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In this Thursday, May 9 2013, photo, two shoppers are reflected in the mirror at a shopping mall in Costa Mesa, Calif. The private Conference Board reports on consumer confidence for May on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. The green shoots of recovery!

Good job!

Now for the jobs!

[SkyDaddy7]

5. Could you imagine what the media would be saying...

If Romney had won the election? They would praising him & giving Romney all the credit for the economic recovery.

[Newest Reality]

2. Agitprop -NT

[Archaic]

3. Goosing those numbers.

Let's see, if we keep rates so low that nobody will save...

maybe they'll spend...

which might make some people hire...

and those people might buy something...

and it will all fix itself...

and we won't have to revisit the actual design and underpinnings of global finance.

[xtraxritical]

7. Imagine how many years ago this good news could have been reported if

Republicons had cooperated and passed the American Jobs Act.

[BREMPRO]

4. ah finally! Romney fixed the economy that Obama wrecked with his anti-business socialist agenda!!!

oh . wait.. sorry.. Obama won the electioN! economy is surging, stock market record levels, housing recovering, deficit dropping 400 billion.. huh! guess that socialism works!!! the repukes will have to come up with a different strategy than harping on "failed economic recovery policies" ... how about fabricating and exaggerating some scandals?.. that will work... maybe IRS and benghazi? yeah!!..

total pathetic Losers... don't give a crap about the country, only power and their egos..

[magical thyme]

6. I know that for me there are green shoots...

now that I am settled in 2 part time jobs, I do have a small amount of discretionary income. I'm not even trying to save at this point, because I have fought so hard for so long just to heat my home and feed my furfamily.

A couple months ago, I went on a spending spree. I replaced 1 pair of sneakers that were falling apart and filled with holes. I got a brand new pair of sneakers *and* a pair of leather walking shoes. I may splurge and get "ladybug boots" to replace my cracked and leaky garden shoes this summer as well. And if I can find some replacement Rics (Crocs don't fit me right) I will.

I've started allowing myself to eat "out" at the hospital restaurant or other job vending once or even twice/week. It gives me some relief from cooking while I wait for the garden to come in and summer salad weather to hit.

I replaced the timing belt and another belt in my car, along with new summer tires.

I bought some extras at the garden store, and plan to return tomorrow.

I pumped my septic. It wasn't dire, but I felt psychological relief doing it.

I'm now waiting for my June work schedule so I can plan for repairing a leaky pipe in my bathroom (a can behind the bowl collects the water right now, lol).

Once the plumbing is done, I'll get the dead maple in the back cut down before hurricane/nor'easter season brings it down on my house.

If the housing market continues to strengthen, I'll put my house on the market this fall, with hopes to sell by following spring...Then I can pay off my student loans, downsize to a hopefully bluer location, and finally and at long last get on with my actual life...