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America's Big Wealth Gap: Is It Good, Bad, Or Irrelevant?

The gap between rich and poor is at its widest since the Roaring '20s. Obama complains that it's unfair, but a growing chorus of economists and sociologists say it's worse than that.

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Confidence Brightens For the Sixth Month in a Row

The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index improved by 1.9 points, or 4.0%, in February posting 49.4 vs. 47.5 in January. The index is 7.0 points above its 12-month average of 42.4 and 5.0 points above its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 0.4 points below its all-time average of 49.9. Add a comment

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Consumer Confidence Brightens As Americans Become More Optimistic on Economic Outlook

The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index improved by 4.7 points, or 11.0%, in January posting 47.5 vs. 42.8 in December. The index is 5.0 points above its 12-month average of 42.5 and 3.1 points above its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 2.4 points below its all-time average of 49.9. Add a comment

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Consumer Confidence Increases, Americans Still Pessimistic

The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index improved by 2.2 points, or 5.4%, in December posting 42.8 vs. 40.6 in November.  The index is 0.1 points below its 12-month average of 42.9 and 1.6 points below its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 7.2 points below its all-time average of 50.0.

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Unemployment Decline To 8.6%: A Statistical Fluke?

Jobs: Americans woke up Friday to the good news that the unemployment rate had dropped sharply from 9% to 8.6%. On closer inspection, the decline is highly questionable — and doesn't warrant a surge in optimism. Add a comment

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Americans Want Spending Cut — But Hands Off Their Benefits

Budget Policy: Americans broadly agree that government has gotten too big and that spending needs to be cut. Great. But just what should be cut? On that, their message is a bit more muddled. Add a comment

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Consumer Confidence Edges Up, Americans Continue to be Pessimistic

The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index improved by 0.3 points, or 0.7%, in November posting 40.6 vs. 40.3 in October.  The index is 2.6 points below its 12-month average of 43.2 and 3.8 points below its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 9.4 points below its all-time average of 50.0.

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Consumer Confidence Edges Up, Americans Still Pessimistic

The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index improved by 0.4 points, or 1.0%, in October posting 40.3 vs. 39.9 in September. In August, the index had crashed to its historic low of 35.8.  The index is 3.4 points below its 12-month average of 43.7 and 4.1 points below its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 9.8 points below its all-time average of 50.1.

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Investor Class Holding Steady

Despite a sharp decline in investor optimism in the recent months, the size of the investor class holds steady. We define households with $10K+ in the stock market to be members of the investor class. 

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Consumer Confidence Recovers From Historic Low

LOS ANGELES (September 13, 2011) — The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index improved by 4.1 points, or 11.5%, in September posting 39.9 vs. 35.8 in August. Last month, the index had crashed to its historic low of 35.8. The index is 4.3 points below its 12-month average of 44.2 and 4.5 points below its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 10.3 points below its all-time average of 50.2.

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Even Dems Lose Faith In Obama's Economics

In a portentous development for President Obama's favorability, the bottom has fallen out of the base of support that has kept his overall ratings buoyant throughout his term.

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Confidence Crashes Through Lows Set In 2008 Meltdown

The economy has weakened dramatically in recent weeks and may have slipped back into recession, data from a new IBD/TIPP Poll suggest.

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US Consumer Confidence Crashes Elevating Recession Risk

LOS ANGELES (August 5, 2011) — The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index declined by 5.6 points, or 13.5%, to a historic low in August posting 35.8 vs. 41.4 in July. IBD/TIPP began tracking in February 2001. The index is 8.8 points below its 12-month average of 44.6 and 8.6 points below its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 14.4 points below its all-time average of 50.2. Add a comment

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Who won the debt-ceiling standoff? No one, poll suggests.

While the debt-ceiling standoff could motivate the bases of both parties, a new Monitor/TIPP poll shows that everyone involved lost points with the public.

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Public Says Debt Plan Doesn't Go Far Enough

As if anticipating Thursday's news that U.S. debt now exceeds the size of the economy, two-thirds of Americans say the debt-ceiling deal reached by Congress on Monday "doesn't go far enough," according to results of an IBD/TIPP Poll in progress.

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Can the Ryan plan rescue Republicans?

So what are Republicans, particularly those in the House, going to do? Debt ceiling deadlines are fast approaching. And many in the GOP leadership, particularly in the Senate, think the party's anti-tax resolve will dissolve if markets start to tumble, resulting in a deal far less appetizing than any discussed during the Biden talks. Certainly no hard spending caps or structural changes to entitlements or any other of the big things on the tea party wishlist.

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The Tea Party Is Ceiling the Deal

The taxpaying public knows that deep spending cuts — right now — are the only answer.

 

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US Consumer Confidence Down Sharply In July On Doubts About Government Policies

The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index declined by 3.2 points, or 7.2%, in July posting 41.4 vs. 44.6 in June. The index is 3.9 points below its 12-month average of 45.3 and 3.0 points below its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 9.0 points below its all-time average of 50.4.

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Fudging The Jobs Data

Economy: When President Obama claimed he created 2.1 million private-sector jobs, the first transcript had the audience responding with "laughter." That's since been changed to "applause," but the joke's on us in any case. Add a comment

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The Economy Dems Now Own

Politics: The head of the Democratic National Committee says the administration has turned the economy around. So let us give discredit where discredit is due. Add a comment

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