Deloitte Spending Index falls on soft home market

NEW YORK The Deloitte Research Leading Index of Consumer Spending fell in September, mainly due to continued softness in the housing market and an increase in unemployment claims.

The Index, comprising four components -- tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices -- fell to 51%, from a revised gain of 0.94% a month ago.

"In the current economic environment, consumers are looking for value," said Stacy Janiak, Deloitte's U.S. Retail leader. "Heading into the holiday season, retailers will be well-positioned by emphasizing their unique value propositions, whether that means price, customer service, loyalty programs, or some other metric important to their customer base. In addition, given the current credit situation, retailers should take a close look at their financing options and conduct scenario planning, particularly with respect to liquidity issues."