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Consumers and the Economic Outlook: Quarterly Update - US - October 2017

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Economy remains stable, allows for consumer growth
Figure 1: Key economic indicators, August 2017
CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION
Current financial health remains high
Figure 2: Opinion on current financial situation, August 2017
Figure 3: Opinion on current financial situation, by age and household income, August 2017
Optimism rises throughout 2017
Figure 4: Opinion on current financial situation, Q2-Q4, 2017
Figure 5: Opinion on “healthy” financial situation, by age and household income, Q2-Q4, 2017
CHANGES IN FINANCIAL WELLBEING
Few predict changes in financial situation
Figure 6: Change in financial situation over the next year, August 2017
Young, middle-class consumers are the most confident
Figure 7: Change in financial situation over the next year, by age and household income, August 2017
IMPROVING FINANCES
Saving, lowering costs still viewed as most immediate ways to economic advancement
Figure 8: Important factors in improving current financial situation, August 2017
Job stability loses importance, while favor of additional income increases
Figure 9: Top factors in improving financial situation, Q2-Q4, 2017
Younger consumers focus more on employment, savings
Figure 10: Important factors in improving current financial situation, by age, August 2017
Figure 11: Important factors in improving current financial situation, by income, August 2017
Older consumers would prefer to lower costs or invest
Figure 12: Important factors in improving current financial situation, by age and household income, August 2017
SPENDING PLANS
Spending remains steady
Figure 13: Past and future spending plans, August 2017
Majority of consumers plan no significant spending changes
Figure 14: Plans for no spending changes, August 2017
Younger, wealthier consumers more optimistic about luxury/big-ticket spending
Figure 15: Future spending plans, by age and income, August 2017
APPENDIX – DATA SOURCES AND ABBREVIATIONS
Data sources
Consumer survey data
Abbreviations and terms
Abbreviations

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