Consumers a Little More Upbeat in July(less than expected -more than June

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=568&ncid=749&e=2&u=/nm/20040716/bs_nm/economy_consumers_dc

Consumers a Little More Upbeat in July

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment improved marginally in early July, supported by a healthier jobs market and a fairly optimistic outlook on the world's largest economy, according to a survey released on Friday

The sentiment index of the University of Michigan's preliminary survey of consumer confidence for July rose to 96.0 from a final reading of 95.6 in June, according to sources who saw the subscription-only report. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a rise to 97.0.


"I expect that consumer confidence will improve gradually because the pace of economic growth is not that great," said William Cheney, chief economist at John Hancock Financial Services Inc. in Boston.

<snip>

[Warpy]

1. All this reflects is the anticipation of what may be the last

vacation they get to enjoy away from home.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. at John Hancock Financial Services Inc

Nothing like an opinion from a disinterested 3rd party.

[xchrom]

3. ah yes -- business

the only thing that really counts in the good ol' us of a.