Table of Contents
Executive Summary
-
- Overview
- Key takeaways
- Financial priorities cross political lines…
- …but future financial outlook is skewed
- Positive outlook on government’s impact strongly connected to political views
- Implications for brands
- Authenticity is still important
- 2020 is unknown and unpredictable
- Keep an eye out, but not everything is political
State of the Economy
-
- Economic overview
-
- Figure 1: Key economic indicators as of May 2019
- Consumer confidence hits new high, but will it stay?
-
- Figure 2: Consumer confidence, January 2009-May 2019
- Un- and underemployment remain low, but have not changed significantly
-
- Figure 3: Un- and underemployment, January 2009-May 2019
- Disposable personal income increases compared to 2018
-
- Figure 4: Disposable personal income change from previous period, January 2009-April 2019
- Personal saving rate slightly down, but consumer spending should remain high
-
- Figure 5: Personal saving rate, January 2009-April 2019
Demographic Breakdown: Political Views
-
- Political views influenced by gender, age and household income
-
- Figure 6: Description of political views, May 2019
Current Financial Situation
-
- US consumers consider their financial situation stable
-
- Figure 7: Current financial situation, May 2019
- Slight uptick in positive sentiment toward finances, but relatively consistent
-
- Figure 8: Current financial situation, Q1 2017-Q3 2019
- Older consumers are most settled with their finances
-
- Figure 9: Current financial situation, by age, May 2019
- Conservative consumers tend to be more confident in their finances
-
- Figure 10: Current financial situation, by political views, May 2019
Change in Financial Situation
-
- Few changes predicted, but nearly half are quite confident
-
- Figure 11: Potential changes in financial situation, May 2019
- Younger consumers have the most confident financial outlook
-
- Figure 12: Current financial situation, by age, May 2019
- Liberals, centrists not as optimistic about their future finances
-
- Figure 13: Current financial situation, by political views, May 2019
Financial Priorities
-
- Savings remain top priority
-
- Figure 14: Financial priorities, May 2019
- Motivations for saving differ based on age
-
- Figure 15: Financial priorities, by age, May 2019
- Political views have little effect on financial priorities
-
- Figure 16: Financial priorities, by political views, May 2019
Government Impact
-
- Government impact considered positive for economy, investments
-
- Figure 17: Government impact, positive effect, May 2019
- Government impact considered to be negative on gas prices, health insurance
-
- Figure 18: Government impact, negative effect, May 2019
- 25-34 year olds most confident in current administration
-
- Figure 19: Government impact, any positive impact, by age, May 2019
- Conservatives split on positive impact of current administration
-
- Figure 20: Government impact, any positive impact, by political views, May 2019
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
-
- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
Back to top