Wed, 02 June 2021 | employment
Amid a rapid reopening of the US economy and a huge increase in demand for workers, a new survey from The Conference Board found that businesses are having immense difficulty finding qualified workers. In fact, 80 percent of organizations hiring mostly industry and manual services workers report difficulty finding qualified workers, with 25 percent reporting it is very difficult. This compares to 74 percent before the pandemic, with 4 percent reporting it was very difficult.
The results of the survey suggest human resources departments will face four main challenges in... Read More
Tue, 01 June 2021 | retail spending
Think everyone was staying home, doing all their shopping online and avoiding human contact at all costs during the past year? Think again. According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Home Improvement Retailer Satisfaction Study,℠ released today, home improvement is one retail category that maintained a consistent level of in-store shopping.
“The home improvement category is booming right now as part of the pandemic-related silver lining from people being home more and finally getting the time to tackle those home projects,” said Christina Cooley, director of the home intel... Read More
Tue, 01 June 2021 | housing real estate
A record high of 51% of homes sold for more than their list price—up from 26% the same period a year earlier—according to a new report from Redfin .
Below are other key housing market takeaways for more than 400 U.S. metro areas during the 4-week period ending May 23, unless otherwise noted.
Note that at this time last year, pandemic stay-at-home orders halted homebuying and selling, which makes year-over-year comparisons unreliable for select housing metrics. As such, Redfin has broken this report into two sections: metrics that a... Read More
Tue, 01 June 2021 | housing real estate
A new survey from Regions Bank suggests the old real estate axiom of "location, location, location", may be getting turned on it's head. The survey indicates consumer sentiment regarding homeownership may have changed, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with people prioritizing additional space, both inside and out, more so than prime locations.
According to the survey, roughly one in five Americans (21%) are planning to buy their first or next home or apartment in the next 12 months. When asked to select all items on their wish list, the top two responses were having room... Read More
Fri, 28 May 2021 | consumers investing
New research from The Conference Board indicates that consumer caution in the first quarter is giving way to a surge in spending, as consumers began feeling the effects of the latest round of government stimulus. The first quarter also saw an increase in both savings and investments into stocks and mutual funds, as compared to Q1 2020. This increased interest by average consumers in investing is expected to continue, fueled by online apps, a search for higher returns, and the appeal of new vehicles such as cryptocurrencies.
Investment went mainstream during the pandemic, buoy... Read More
Thu, 27 May 2021 | spending
As the country celebrates the unofficial beginning of summer this Memorial Day weekend, will consumers celebrate the easing of restrictions at the mall? Retailers across the country have marked down everything from swimwear to cars, but how has the pandemic of the past eighteen months shaped shoppers’ behaviors?
According to a new consumer report by First Insight, consumers are less worried about the Coronavirus overall, but spending and behavior remain unchanged from the height of the pandemic. The company has been engaged in a longitudinal study of consumers since February... Read More
News and insights about consumer and demographic financial trends
The Hidden Cost of Idle Cash: What the Vanguard Survey Reveals About America’s Savings Habits
Consumers Growing Cautious Amid Rising Inflation and Economic Uncertainty
US Taxpayers Say Tax Refunds are a Financial Necessity
Consumer Pessimism Grows Despite Stable Long-Term Inflation Expectations
Economic Uncertainty and Inflation Impact Retirement Prospects for Americans
AARP Survey Reveals Alarming Retirement Savings Trends
Hispanic Consumers More Optimistic About Finances
Homeowners Facing Increasing Insurance Rates
U.S. Foreclosures Increase In First Quarter
Consumers Perceive Less Buying Power Despite Lower Inflation