Consumer Reports Index: Worried Consumers May Make Reluctant Shoppers During Final Weeks of December

/PRNewswire/ -- While retail spending was strong this November, consumers are feeling the pain of a weak employment picture and increased financial troubles. Americans are showing signs of waning confidence, increased stress and reluctance to spend more in December than a year ago, according to the Consumer Reports Index December report.

The Consumer Reports Retail Index showed that the Past 30-Day Retail Index for December, reflective of November activity, was 12.4, up from both the prior month (10.9) and one year ago (11.2). But with just two weeks left to go in the holiday shopping season, the Consumer Reports Index offers some troubling signs for retailers. The Next 30-Day Retail Index for December (reflecting planned December activity) is down slightly (11.8) versus a year ago (12.2). This was led by the soft performance of planned purchasing of personal electronics relative to last year (27.8% versus 32.9%, respectively).

"Despite all the talk and media attention about positive economic growth, consumers are telling us that they are not seeing or, more importantly, not feeling the difference," said Ed Farrell, a director of the Consumer Reports National Research Center. "The consumer may not be confident enough to continue spending through the holiday season. It may require deep discounting from retailers to get consumers back to the store in the final weeks of December."

After five straight months of improvement, the Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index points to an increase in consumer financial difficulties (e.g. missed major bills, job loss, loss of health-care coverage) and is up this month to 52.7 from 49.3 the prior month, but well below one year ago (62.0).

The Consumer Reports Employment Index is down in December to 49.2 from 50.3 in November, and is on par with one year ago (48.9), bringing to a halt three months of modest gains. December's Employment Index is indicative of an economy shedding more jobs than it is creating. In the past 30 days, the proportion of Americans that have lost their job has increased to 7.4% from 4.9% a month earlier. Past 30-day job losses are at their highest level since June (8.6%).

The Consumer Reports Index report, available at www.ConsumerReports.org , comprises five key indices: the Sentiment Index, the Trouble Tracker Index, the Stress Index, the Retail Index, and the Employment Index. Here are the key findings:

Consumer Reports Sentiment Index : 45.1*

The Consumer Reports Sentiment Index (45.1) has slipped slightly from the prior month (46.6), but is up slightly from one year ago (41.8). Sentiment has doggedly refused to enter positive territory (over 50) since it was first measured by the Consumer Reports Index on October 5, 2008 and stood at 45.3.

* The most optimistic consumers: Age 18-34 – 53.5, (down from 58.4 the prior month) and those with household incomes $100,000 or more – 54.5, even with prior month (55.1).
* The most pessimistic consumers: Households with income less than $50,000 (40.2, down slightly from the prior month at 42.2), and consumers age 65 and older (38.7, little changed from a month earlier at 38.4).


* The Consumer Reports Sentiment Index captures respondents' attitudes regarding their financial situation, asking them if they are feeling better or worse off than a year ago. When the index is greater than 50, more consumers are feeling positive about their situation. When it is below 50, more consumers are feeling worse. The Sentiment Index can vary from a high of 100 to a low of 0.

Consumer Reports Retail Index : Past 30-Day 12.4, Next 30-Day – 11.8*

* The Past 30-Day Retail Index for December (reflective of November activity) is 12.4, up from the prior month (10.9), as well as a year ago (11.2). December's Next 30-Day Retail Index (planned purchases for December), is at 11.8, up substantially from last month (8.0), but is slightly trailing last year at this time (12.2).
* Looking in detail at the categories comprising the Past 30-Day Retail Index* gains were attributable to an uptick in small appliance sales versus the prior month (21.8% versus 16.7%, respectively); gains in home electronics, up to 15.0% from 11.8% a month earlier; and personal electronics (26.2), up substantially from the prior month (19.6). Versus one year ago, sales in the past 30-days were up for home electronics (15.0%) versus 11.9% last year; and for major appliances (8.1%), up from 6.8% a year ago.
* The gain in the Next 30-Day Retail Index* for December, reflective of December activity, was attributable to an increase in planned purchasing of personal electronics (27.8%), up from 18.2% a month earlier; and a gain in planned purchasing for home electronics (16.5%) versus the prior month (10.0%). Compared to last year, however, planned purchasing of personal electronics was down for this December, 27.8% versus 32.9%, respectively.


* The Consumer Reports Retail Index looks at consumer purchases in the past 30 days as well as the outlook for planned purchases in the next 30 days across several categories. The Consumer Reports Retail Index represents the proportion of respondents that made a purchase in the following categories: major home appliances, small home appliances, major home electronics, personal electronics, and major yard and garden equipment. The Retail Index is a weighted calculation. For example, a major appliance is of greater value than a small appliance. Because of their size and frequency, car and home purchases are tracked separately.

Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index : 52.7

* Consumers faced more troubles than last month, signaling a halt to five months of improvement. The trouble tracker index increased to 52.7 in December, up from November's 49.3, though the Trouble Tracker Index is much improved from one year ago (62.0).
* Negative developments were led by an increase in consumers that lost their job in the past 30 days to 7.4% from 4.9% in November, and an increase in those that have missed a payment on a major bill (not mortgage) to 9.5% from 8.9% a month earlier.
* A sign of the weak jobs market is the proportion of consumers that have lost or face reduced health-care coverage (9.0%), up slightly from last month (8.7%), but up from a year ago (7.9%).
* On the positive side, there were fewer consumers that could not afford medical bills or medications (13.3%) versus last month (14.5%) and one year ago (15.7%). However, the improvement in the proportion that could not afford medical bills or medication may signal a change in behavior, where consumers are availing themselves of medical services less often.
* Overall, the most prevalent consumer troubles include: the inability to afford medical bills or medications (13.3%) missed payment on a major bill – not a mortgage (9.5%), and lost or reduced health-care coverage (9.0%).


* The Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker focuses on both the proportion of consumers that have faced difficulties as well as the number of negative events they have encountered. The negative events include: the inability to pay medical bills or afford medication, missed mortgage payments, home foreclosure, interest-rate increase, penalty fees, reduced lines of credit or other changes in credit-card terms, job loss or layoffs, reduced health-care coverage, or the denial of personal loans. The Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index is then calculated as the proportion of consumers that have experienced at least one of the negative events comprising the index multiplied by the average number of events encountered.

Consumer Reports Stress Index : 60.8*

* The level of stress consumers feel they are under is down to 60.8 from 58.5 the prior month, but is below the level from one year ago (63.0).


* The Consumer Reports Stress Index captures attitudes regarding the amount of stress consumers feel compared to a year ago. It asks whether they are feeling more stressed or less stressed. When the Stress Index is more than 50, consumers are feeling more stress and when it is below 50 they are feeling less stress compared to a year ago. The index can vary from 100 (Total Stress) to a low of 0 (No Stress).

Consumer Reports Employment Index : 49.2*

Regionally, the Northeast is doing slightly better this month, led by declining consumer stress and improved retail activity. The North, Central and South have declined slightly as a result of increased consumer economic difficulties and a decline in Consumer Sentiment.

* The Consumer Reports Employment Index examines the change in employment of those that reported starting a new job versus those that have lost their job or were laid off in the past 30 days. An index below 50 indicates more jobs were lost than gained, while a score more than 50 indicates more jobs were gained than lost in the past 30 days.

For more information regarding the Consumer Reports Index, visit www.ConsumerReports.org .

The Consumer Reports Index, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, is a monthly telephone and cell phone poll of a nationally representative probability sample of American adults. A total of 1,263 interviews were completed (1,013 telephone and 250 cell phone) among adults aged 18+. Interviewing took place between December 2 and December 5, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 2.8 points at a 95% confidence level. The complete index report, methodology, and tabular information are available.

-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Twitter: @FayetteFP

AARP Survey: Americans of All Ages Plan to Rely on Social Security

/PRNewswire/ -- With the 75th anniversary of Social Security approaching, AARP released a new survey report that shows that three in four (75%) adults age 18+ rely on or plan to rely on Social Security for their retirement income, including a large majority (62%) of younger adults age 18-29. The survey also showed a strong majority of those polled oppose reducing Social Security benefits for deficit reduction (85%), and support the infusion of additional revenues into the system to provide the same level of benefits in the future (57%).

Changes to Program Should Strengthen for Long Term, Not Reduce Deficit

The AARP survey found that regardless of age, 85% of adults oppose cutting Social Security to reduce the federal deficit, with more than seven out of ten (72%) strongly opposing it.

However, many support other changes to keep the program strong for future retirees. Over three-quarters (77%) of non-retired adults are worried that they may not have enough money to live on in retirement. To that end, 50% of non-retired adults are willing to pay more now in payroll taxes to ensure Social Security will be there for them when they retire, a finding that has remained consistent over time. Over half (57%) of adults under age 50 would prefer to pay more into Social Security so they can get the same level of benefits provided today as opposed to keeping payroll tax rates at current levels in exchange for lower benefits.

Eight in ten Americans 18+ (81%) believe the government made a commitment to Americans about Social Security being there for them when they retire, and that the government cannot break its promise. In addition, over eight in ten Americans (83%) agree that regardless of income, everyone who pays into Social Security should receive it, a finding that has not changed over time.

"The message from people of all ages to Washington is clear - don't erode the one bedrock of retirement security that unites all Americans," said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. "Americans see Social Security as a benefit they've earned over a lifetime of hard work, and they oppose it being used to reduce the deficit."

Lack of Confidence Does not Diminish Support, Including Among Younger Adults

Although confidence in the future of Social Security has consistently been low over the last 25 years, Americans of all ages strongly support the program. Consistent with previous surveys, a strong majority (63%) believe Social Security is one of the very most important programs in this country, with nine out of ten (90%) younger adults age 18-29 saying that Social Security is an important government program. Among non-retirees who are not confident about the future of Social Security, 84% agree with the statement that "Maybe I won't need Social Security when I retire, but I definitely want to know it's there just in case I do."

In addition, the public's lower level of confidence in the future of Social Security can be partially explained by the lack of awareness about solvency. Only one in five (21%) Americans knew that if the Social Security trust fund is exhausted in 2037, Social Security could still pay reduced benefits.

"Americans overwhelmingly understand that Social Security has literally been a lifeline to millions of friends, family members and neighbors for 75 years," added LeaMond. "More importantly, they want to make sure it will still be there for future generations. Younger Americans, although worried about whether Social Security will be there for them, value the program with unquestionable support, and want to know that they can rely on the benefits when they retire."

Social Security Provides Financial Security for Families

The AARP survey found widespread understanding and support for Social Security as an important resource for families and their loved ones.

Americans overwhelmingly support Social Security's protections for people who are disabled and for children and widowed spouses of deceased workers (91%). Almost two-thirds of Americans 18+ (65%) say that their family would be hard hit if Social Security were cut, including 72% of adults whose household annual income is less than $50,000. Eighty percent of Americans appreciate that Social Security alleviates the financial burden of taking care of parents and 88% of non-retired adults believe Social Security helps older Americans remain independent.

With increased attention on Social Security's future, the survey assessed Americans' attitudes toward key features of the program. Across all ages, nearly eight in ten (79%) Americans surveyed agree that Social Security should continue to provide guaranteed benefits while few (19%) think that it should be more like an investment account, subject to risk of possible losses. Half of Americans believe that Social Security payments for retirees are too low.

"We are celebrating Social Security's 75 years of success in reliably helping millions of people age with dignity, confidence and independence," said LeaMond. "We encourage leaders in Washington to reassure all Americans - in words and in actions - that Social Security will be strengthened, not treated as a piggy bank for deficit reduction, so that we can celebrate again 75 years from now."

During the August Congressional recess, AARP is engaging Americans of all ages in activities around the country to demonstrate to lawmakers the importance of Social Security. The organization is going to state fairs, holding community conversations, and collecting petitions that ask the President and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle not to cut Social Security benefits for deficit reduction and to keep Social Security strong. AARP has already collected 1.5 million petitions over the past few months.

AARP commissioned GfK Roper, a national survey research firm, to conduct a national random digit dial (RDD) telephone survey of 1,200 adults aged 18 or older. A total of 781 respondents were not retired and 419 were retired. Interviews were conducted from July 15th to 27th, 2010. The results from the study were weighted by age, sex, race, region, and education. The margin of sampling error is approximately +/- 3%.

-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Pew Report Finds Credit Cards More Transparent, Yet Problems Remain

/PRNewswire/ -- Most of the practices deemed "unfair" or "deceptive" by the Federal Reserve have disappeared from new credit card offers since federal passage of the Credit CARD Act last year, according to a new report by the Pew Health Group's Safe Credit Cards Project. Yet new trends have emerged that could cost cardholders significantly.

The report finds that issuers have eliminated practices such as "hair trigger" penalty rate increases (disproportionate charges for minor account violations), unfair payment allocation, and raising interest rates on existing balances. However, Pew's research also highlights a sharp rise in cash advance fees, continued widespread use of other penalty interest rates and an emerging trend of credit card companies failing to disclose penalty interest rates in their online terms and conditions.

"While it's been less than a year since passage of the Credit CARD Act, the new law appears to be working for millions of Americans who have credit cards," said Shelley A. Hearne, managing director of the Pew Health Group. "The elimination of most of the 'unfair' or 'deceptive' practices of the credit industry since we last surveyed the marketplace marks a major milestone in the move to make credit cards safer, transparent and more fair for consumers. Most of the news is good, but we are seeing the rise of new harmful behavior."

The study, Two Steps Forward: After the Credit CARD Act, Cards Are Safer and More Transparent--But Challenges Remain, is the latest in a series of reports from the Pew Safe Credit Cards Project that has examined all consumer credit cards offered online by the nation's 12 largest banks and 12 largest credit unions. Together these institutions control more than 90 percent of the nation's outstanding credit card debt. For this latest report, which measures how the industry has changed since the passage of the Credit CARD Act, Pew gathered data in March 2010 on nearly 450 cards. Full details, including previous research, can be found at www.pewtrusts.org/creditcards.

Key findings show:

-- Many of the most troublesome practices of the credit card industry
have been eliminated. A credit card issuer can no longer unilaterally
decide to raise interest rates on existing balances. Likewise,
practices including "hair trigger" penalty rate increases, unfair
payment allocation, and overlimit fees without prior consent are a
thing of the past. Earlier Pew research found that before the
implementation of the law, 100 percent of the credit cards surveyed
included at least one of these practices.
-- Beyond the requirements of the new law, there are new practices that
benefit consumers. Less than 25 percent of all cards examined had an
overlimit fee, which is down from more than 80 percent of cards in
July 2009. Additionally, mandatory arbitration clauses, which can
limit a consumer's right to settle disputes in court, are now found in
10 percent of cards compared to 68 percent in July 2009.
-- Predictions that legislation would spawn the growth of new fees have
yet to materialize. There was minimal change in the number of cards
that include an annual fee (down 1 percentage point from July 2009 to
March 2010). During that period, the median size of these fees
increased from $50 to $59 for banks and from $15 to $25 for credit
unions.
-- Some disclosures stopped including the size of penalty interest rates
even as issuers reserved the right to impose them. At least 94 percent
of bank cards and 46 percent of credit union cards came with interest
rates that could go up as a penalty for late payments or other
violations. But nearly half these warnings failed to inform the
consumer of the actual penalty interest rate or how high it could
climb.


"Although we applaud changes by the card industry to create a fairer and more transparent marketplace, our research shows that some challenges remain," said Nick Bourke, director of Pew's Safe Credit Cards Project and report co-author. "For the first time, we have seen credit card disclosures warning consumers that interest rates could go up as a penalty for certain actions, but not stating how high those rates could go. Federal regulators should pay attention to this problematic new trend. When issuers withhold vital pricing information, it leaves cardholders in the dark and puts their financial security at risk, which is why federal regulations have long required issuers to disclose their rates and fees up front."

Two Steps Forward includes a number of policy recommendations to address new challenges, including:

-- Federal bank regulators should enforce existing regulations that
require companies to disclose full and reliable credit card penalty
rate information.
-- The Federal Reserve should prohibit issuers from charging penalty
interest rates that are higher than initially disclosed when the
consumer opened the card account.


The report also shows that surcharge fees for cash advances rose sharply between July 2009 and March 2010. Bank cash advance and balance transfer fees increased on average by one-third during this period, from 3 percent of each transaction to 4 percent. Credit union cash advance fees went up by one quarter, from 2 percent to 2.5 percent.

Other pricing data is also included in the report, showing recent increases in a variety of credit card interest rates and fees.

------
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Georgia Tech College of Management Financial Analysis Lab Releases Latest Report

In the latest report from the Georgia Tech Financial Analysis Lab, located in the College of Management, Professor Charles Mulford warns of increased tax payment risks to capital-intensive companies. He identifies companies that may be facing increased taxes from a reduction in capital spending that may arise from the slowing economy.

According to the report, firms that reduce their capital spending could see increased tax payments.

Mulford says the situation is part of the consequences of deferred tax liabilities. The risks occur when capital expenditures are reduced, resulting in reductions in deferred tax liabilities. Income taxes, which were deferred in previous periods, come due, resulting in higher tax payments.

Such increased tax payments may occur during difficult economic times as companies respond to slack demand by reducing capital spending.

“Cash flow is the lifeblood of any company,” said Mulford. “During a recession, investors and creditors become understandably concerned about the ability of companies to generate cash. Unexpected increases in tax payments, which can arise as companies reduce their capital spending, can threaten cash flow and hurt corporate financial well being.”

The lab conducted research using 2007 data to identify capital-intensive firms with significant deferred tax liabilities. The report then splits these firms into two groups: firms with increasing capital expenditures and deferred tax liabilities and firms with decreasing capital expenditures and deferred tax liabilities.

According to Mulford, all of the firms could be at risk for increased tax payments during an extended period of reduced capital expenditures. However, the firms in the latter group are more likely to have higher tax payments. Investors may not be expecting such high tax payments, especially during a recession.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Consumer Reports' Annual Public-Education Campaign Warns of the Pitfalls of Credit Card Debt

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports today unveiled the third installment of its annual public education campaign, warning holiday shoppers of the pitfalls of credit card debt. Consumer Reports' public education campaign kicks off on Monday, November 24th with a full-page ad in USA Today advising shoppers: "There is no 'bailout clause' in your credit card contract." Americans owe nearly $1 trillion in credit card debt according to the Federal Reserve Board.

A recent survey from the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that 12 million Americans are still in debt from last year's holiday season. Additionally 38 percent of Americans said they plan to use credit cards this holiday season as much as they did last year (35%) or more than last year (3%).

In addition to the full-page ad in USA Today, Consumer Reports will run a series of online ads across highly trafficked or influential personal finance and consumer blogs including Consumerist.com, Yahoo Shopping, and Bargainist.com. The online ads will highlight the Consumer Reports "Tightwad Tod" blog on www.ConsumerReports.org/TightwadTod.

Launched at the start of the holiday shopping season, the "Tightwad Tod" blog covers a wide variety of topics that affect consumers during these tight economic times including advice on getting the best deals during the holiday season -- everything from layaway plans to getting a holiday job to navigating outlet malls. The blog is written by Consumer Reports Senior Project Editor Tod Marks, who has been finding deals and exposing scams in every area of consumer spending for nearly 20 years.

"This campaign reminds consumers that Wall Street's bailout won't cover them this holiday season. If consumers over-extend their credit cards, there won't be a rescue package waiting in the wings, so they need to remain vigilant about spending within their budgets," said Jim Guest, president and CEO of Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports. "As an organization that doesn't take advertising, we're using this venue as a way to educate consumers and foster marketplace change."

A Tradition of Public Education and Marketplace Change

This latest effort by Consumer Reports follows a tradition of public education campaigns against gift cards and extended warranties. Last year, the organization took on the retail sector and the ubiquitous gift card with a full-page ad in the New York Times, which advised consumers that $8 billion in gift cards go unused and wind up back in the pockets of retailers. The campaign called on retailers and the National Retail Federation to eliminate expiration dates and service fees. In 2006, Consumer Reports took out a full-page ad in USA Today advising consumers to skip the extended warranty. That ad was rebutted by a full-page ad one week later from the Service Contract Industry Council. Following this campaign, the Consumer Electronics Association reported consumer interest in purchasing extended warranties fell 20 percent.

Which way to pay: Credit, debit, check, or cash

A recent poll conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that 59% of consumers plan to make a budget before they begin to shop this holiday season. And while making a budget is a good first step, being able to stick with it is quite another. Of the 39% of consumers who said they made a budget last year, 45% were able to stay on budget while, nearly as many (44%) went over budget. Only 3% discarded their budget all together going way over budget.

Consumer Reports advises consumers that whether they make a budget or not this year the method of payment makes a difference. Credit cards offer the most protections for consumers, but consumers who routinely carry a balance will pay more for their purchases once fees and interest charges are factored in.

Consumer Reports recommends the following tips to avoid debt and maximize the method of payment:

-- Cash. Consumers should use cash as much as they can. There's no fear
of identity theft, and it's accepted almost everywhere. Remember to
save the receipt for evidence of payment.
-- Checks. Write a check if you need to make a large purchase somewhere
that won't accept credit or debit and you don't want to carry cash.
Canceled checks can also be useful as receipts or for tax purposes. If
a check disappears, you can stop payment on it, if you act quickly
enough (checks are increasingly being processed in a single day).
-- Debit cards. Use a debit card when you don't mind having the money
withdrawn immediately from your checking account. Debit cards are a
surefire way to avoid onerous credit-card interest charges, but you
could be slapped with burdensome overdraft fees if you don't have
enough money in your account to cover your purchases. With a debit
card, your liability for unauthorized transactions is limited to $50
if you report the problem within two business days of discovering it.
After that the limit leaps to $500. Beyond 60 days of your account
statement you could lose all the money in your bank account.
-- Credit cards. Use a credit card for most large purchases, if you're
not carrying a balance and can pay off the bill each month. Credit
cards offer greater protection than other forms of payment. If you
don't pay off your purchases each month, you'll pay interest rates of
about 12 to 13 percent on your balance, depending on whether your card
has a variable or fixed rate. If your account number falls into the
wrong hands, you're liable for only the first $50 in charges, and most
large issuers waive liability altogether. If you have a legitimate
beef with a seller, it's relatively easy to have the charges removed
until the dispute is settled, if you report the matter to the issuer
within 60 days after the charge appears on your statement.


The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of a nationally-representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,001 interviews were completed among adults aged 18+. Interviewing took place over October 16-19, 2008. The margin of error is +/-3% points at a 95% confidence level.

DECEMBER 2008

(C) Consumers Union 2008. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports(R) is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and impartiality, Consumers Union accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. Consumers Union supports itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page