Nielsen: U.S. consumer confidence edges up in Q1

New York – U.S. consumers are continuing to show moderate signs of the optimism Americans are so famous for. According to the Nielsen consumer confidence index, U.S. consumer confidence increased one index point in the first quarter of 2015 to a score of 107, maintaining an above-the-baseline (100) optimism level for one year.



In the U.S., the only confidence indicator that increased in the first quarter was job prospects, rising five percentage points to 55%, while personal finance sentiment and immediate spending intentions declined two percentage points each to 62% and 50%, respectively, from fourth-quarter 2014. Recessionary sentiment reached a new low of 50%, down from 55% the previous quarter and 65% six months ago.



"In the U.S., optimism continued to move forward in the first quarter, likely influenced by the addition of nearly 600,000 new jobs and low gasoline prices, which put more money in consumers' wallets," said James Russo, senior VP, Nielsen Global Consumer Insights. "Consumer spending picked up in the first quarter, with fast-moving consumer goods sales rising 2.5%, compared to an annual increase of only 1.4% during 2014.”



While 2015 is off to a good start, Russo cautioned that half of Americans are still in a recessionary mindset, and nearly 35% say they live paycheck to paycheck.



The Nielsen consumer confidence index measures perceptions of local job prospects, personal finances and immediate spending intentions.