Table of Contents
Year in Review
State of the Economy
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- In summary: 2017
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- Figure 1: Key economic indicators, November 2017
- GDP continues to increase
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- Figure 2: GDP change from previous period, based on chained 2009 dollars, Q1 2016-Q3 2017
- Un- and underemployment end year under 2016 numbers
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- Figure 3: Unemployment and underemployment, January 2016-October 2017
- Consumer confidence ends Q3 over 100
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- Figure 4: Consumer Sentiment Index, January 2016-October 2017
Current Financial Situation
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- Financial situation considered most healthy in the summer
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- Figure 5: Opinion of current financial situation, Q1-Q4 2017
- Men are more confident with their current finances
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- Figure 6: Opinion of current financial situation, by age and gender, November 2017
Changes in Financial Wellbeing
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- No significant changes in financial wellbeing throughout the year
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- Figure 7: Changes in financial situation, Q1-Q4 2017
- Younger consumers still most optimistic about their future financial plans
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- Figure 8: Expected changes in financial situation, by age and gender, November 2017
- City-dwellers most enthusiastic for 2018
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- Figure 9: Expected changes in financial situation, by geographic area, November 2017
Improving Finances
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- Saving money remains top economic improvement factor, with investing gaining popularity
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- Figure 10: Top five factors to improvements to financial situation, Q1-Q4 2017
- Young consumers continue to focus on self-reliance for economic improvement
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- Figure 11: Self-reliant factors to improvements to financial situation, by age and gender, November 2017
Spending Plans
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- Past spending habits show general, though slight, downward trend
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- Figure 12: Saving and spending habits overall, Q1-Q4 2017
- Figure 13: Where money is spent, Q1-Q4 2017
- Adding to savings, domestic travel most frequent in the fall of 2017
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- Figure 14: Past expenses, November 2017
- Older consumers save while younger consumers cut back
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- Figure 15: Past expenses, November 2017
- Figure 16: Past expenses, November 2017
- Looking ahead, consumers estimate fewer savings, spending
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- Figure 17: Saving and spending habits overall, Q1-Q4 2017
- Figure 18: Where money will be spent, Q1-Q4 2017
- Holidays impact travel plans, debt reduction
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- Figure 19: Future spending or savings plans, November 2017
- Young men and women plan to save for the next quarter
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- Figure 20: Future savings plans, November 2017
- Figure 21: Future spending plans, November 2017
- Most do not intend to purchase luxury items or travel internationally this season
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- Figure 22: Not done and no intent to do, November 2017
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
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- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
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