Rich Americans less optimistic after stock falls, reveals consumer survey

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Numbers: Most Americans remain optimistic about the US economy, but a recent stock market slump has made richer households more worried about their incomes, a consumer survey reveals.

The University of Michigan Consumer Confidence Index rose from 98.6 to 97.5 in November, according to the second and final reading of the month.

This is the second consecutive decline and a little more negative than the preliminary reading of 98.3.

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What happened: The largest drop in confidence occurred among the one-third of the richest American households.

The wealthiest Americans have more money on the stock market. The recent drop in prices seems to have made them more anxious, even before the big slump this week that had virtually wiped out all the gains of 2018.

In contrast, sentiment has risen sharply among Americans whose incomes were in the bottom third of the country, the survey reveals.

The 2018 elections do not seem to have had an impact on consumers' perceptions of their well-being. Neither Democrats nor Republicans were influenced by the results.

Big picture: The shocking fall of the stock market this week suggests that investors are more worried about the future of the economy. The increase in the number of UI claims and a sluggish reading of business investment in October are likely to worsen concerns.

However, in many ways, the economy seems to be doing well. The US labor market is the strongest in decades and most households have had the best financial situation for years. The drop in gasoline prices also provides a boost and helps to ease inflationary pressures.

However, if stocks continue to fall, optimism will certainly decrease.

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What are they saying? "Although there is no reason to anticipate a sudden change in interest rate expectations over the next few months, there is still a significant task for the Federal Reserve." to avoid crossing the threshold that causes the widespread deferral of purchases, "said Richard Curtin, chief economist. of the investigation.