Table of Contents
Executive Summary
State of the Economy
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- Economy remains stable, allows for consumer growth
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- Figure 1: Key economic indicators, August 2017
Current Financial Situation
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- Current financial health remains high
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- Figure 2: Opinion on current financial situation, August 2017
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- Figure 3: Opinion on current financial situation, by age and household income, August 2017
- Optimism rises throughout 2017
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- Figure 4: Opinion on current financial situation, Q2-Q4, 2017
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- Figure 5: Opinion on “healthy” financial situation, by age and household income, Q2-Q4, 2017
Changes in Financial Wellbeing
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- Few predict changes in financial situation
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- Figure 6: Change in financial situation over the next year, August 2017
- Young, middle-class consumers are the most confident
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- Figure 7: Change in financial situation over the next year, by age and household income, August 2017
Improving Finances
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- Saving, lowering costs still viewed as most immediate ways to economic advancement
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- Figure 8: Important factors in improving current financial situation, August 2017
- Job stability loses importance, while favor of additional income increases
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- Figure 9: Top factors in improving financial situation, Q2-Q4, 2017
- Younger consumers focus more on employment, savings
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- Figure 10: Important factors in improving current financial situation, by age, August 2017
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- Figure 11: Important factors in improving current financial situation, by income, August 2017
- Older consumers would prefer to lower costs or invest
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- Figure 12: Important factors in improving current financial situation, by age and household income, August 2017
Spending Plans
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- Spending remains steady
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- Figure 13: Past and future spending plans, August 2017
- Majority of consumers plan no significant spending changes
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- Figure 14: Plans for no spending changes, August 2017
- Younger, wealthier consumers more optimistic about luxury/big-ticket spending
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- Figure 15: Future spending plans, by age and income, August 2017
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
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- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
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