St. Louis Construction News and Real Estate (CNR)

News, August 5, 2009 | 08/05/2009

MO Consumer Confidence Rising, Gallup Says

Missouri ranked near the middle of the pack in a recent Gallup poll about whether consumers were more optimistic than in 2008. While the total percentage is still low, 27% of Missourians thought the economy was getting better in the recent poll, versus 12 percent a year ago. Missouri's change in the level of confidence aligns almost exactly with national levels.

In the first half of 2009, 27% of Americans, on average, believed the economy was getting better, more than double the average for 2008 (13%). Following the District of Columbia at the top of the list, the states that currently are most optimistic about the economy are South Dakota, New Mexico, and North Dakota. Wyoming and West Virginia residents are the least optimistic.

All states showed improvements in consumer confidence. Though Americans remain cautious about the future course of the U.S. economy, they are much more optimistic in 2009 than they were in 2008. To see the complete results, including charts, click this link.