1

Arkansas Consumer Confidence Third Quarter Report

The Arkansas Consumer Confidence Report is conducted by Talk Business and Hendrix College and is sponsored by Delta Trust & Bank and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

2

How would you describe your personal financial situation? Are you better off

financially, worse off or about the same as you were six months go?

Better Worse About the same0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

10%

42%

48%

11%

34.5%

54.5%

11.5%

47.5%

41%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

3

Personal Financial SituationDemographics of Response by Age

Under 30 30-44 45-64 65+0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

34%

12% 8% 8%

29%

44%41% 42%

37%43% 51% 50%

Better Same Worse

4

<$50K $50-75K $75-100K $100K +0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

10%16%

8%16%

34%

45%54%

59%

56%

39% 39%26%

Better Same Worse

Personal Financial SituationDemographics of Response by Income

5

Now looking ahead…Do you think that in six months your personal financial situation will be

better off, worse off or about the same?

Better Worse About the same0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

13.5%

42.5% 44%

12%

38%

50%

16%

37%

47%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

6

Under 30 30-44 45-63 65+0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

37%

18% 15% 10%

32%

50%45% 52%

32% 32%40% 38%

Better Same Worse

Personal Financial Situation in 6 months

Demographics of Response by Age

7

African

American

Asian Americ

anLati

noWhite

Other0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

42%

0%

44%

12% 10%

46%50%

44%48%

33%

12%

50%

11%

40%

57%

Better Same Worse

Personal Financial Situation in 6 months

Demographics of Response by Ethnicity/Race

8

As a consumer, do you think you will spend more money or less money for

goods and services in the next six months?

More Less About the same0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

17%

50.5%

32.5%

41%

29% 30%

22%

47%

31%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

9

Why will you spend more?(only 22% “spend more” answered)

Anticipate having more income

Think items will cost more in 6

months

Know of major purchases or

repairs

Other0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

16.5%

60.5%

14.5%8.5%

17%

59%

15%9%

2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

10

Why will you spend less?(only 47% “spend more” answered)

Plan to conserve money

Think items will cost less in 6

months

Recently made major purchse &

plan to spend less in future

Other0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0% 57.0%

4%9%

30%

55%

3%8%

34%

2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

11

How would you describe current job conditions where you live?

Plentiful Hard to find Don’t know0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

9%

76%

15%

6%

69.5%

24.5%

10.5%

74.5%

15%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

12

Under 30 30-44 45-63 65+0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

27%11% 8% 8%

68%

75% 79%70%

5%14% 13%

22%

Plentiful Hard to Find Don't Know

Job AvailabilityDemographics of Response by Age

13

In six months, do you expect job conditions to get better, worse or stay

the same?

Better Worse Stay the same0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

13%

45.5%41.5%

16.5%

37.5%

46%

15%

41%44%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

14

In the last year, have you or someone you’re close to lost his or her job?

Yes No0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

60%

40%

15

Do you believe that offshoring has cost people in your community their jobs?

Yes No Don't know0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%63.5%

16%20.5%

16

Turning to national business conditions as a whole – do you think that current

business conditions in the US are good, bad or normal?

Good Bad Normal0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

3%

80%

17%

5%

74.5%

20.5%

3.5%

80.5%

16%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

17

Under 30 30-44 45-63 65+0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

10%3% 3% 2%

24%

14% 13% 20%

66%

83% 84%78%

Good Normal Bad

National Business ConditionsDemographics of Response by Age

18

<$50K $50-75K $75-100K $100K +0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2% 3% 8% 4%

18% 12%14%

16%

80% 85%79% 80%

Good Normal Bad

National Business ConditionsDemographics of Response by Income

19

Do you think that current business conditions in Arkansas are good, bad or

normal?

Good Bad Normal0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

9%

51%

40%

11%

49.5%

39.5%

10%

53.5%

36.5%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter

20

African

American

Asian Americ

anLati

noWhite

Other0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

14%

0%

22%

9% 10%

50% 50%

33% 35% 33%36%

50%

44%

56% 57%

Good Normal Bad

Arkansas Business ConditionsDemographics of Response by

Ethnicity/Race

21

Under 30 30-44 45-63 65+0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

17% 13% 9% 7%

37%

30%31%

50%

46%57% 60%

44%

Good Normal Bad

Arkansas Business ConditionsDemographics of Response by Age

22

<$50K $50-75K $75-100K $100K +0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

8% 8%15%

22%

35% 37%35%

45%

57% 55% 50%

33%

Good Normal Bad

Arkansas Business ConditionsDemographics of Response by Income

23

Leading Economic Indicators (LEI)

24

Retail and Food Services Sales Percent Change From A Year Ago

25

Light Weight Vehicle Sales: Autos & Light Trucks

26

Total Nonfarm Job Openings

27

28

Civilian Unemployment Rate Percentages Post WWII