Glimmer of Consumer Optimism

BIGresearch's March 2010 Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey contains a few kernels of optimism on the economic front. Here are a few highlights:

• In March, fewer than one in three (29.8%) contend they are confident/very confident in chances for a strong economy. While this figure has risen 2+ points from a month ago (27.2%), it continues in the “about 30%” holding pattern begun in May-09. This month’s reading represents an improvement from a year ago (19.5%) as well as Mar-08 (24.8%), but is still well below Mar-07’s 46.9%.
• One in five (20.6%) assert that they worry more about political/national security issues, down nearly a point from last month (21.3%) and three points from Mar-09 (23.8%).
• Consumer confidence showed slight improvement from February, nearly half of those surveyed (48.4%) contend they’ve become more practical in purchasing, up five points from a month ago (43.3%), but still below the 52.7% reading recorded in Mar-09.
• More than half of those surveyed (55.7%) say they are focused on just the necessities when spending, up more than three points from a month ago (52.1%), but lower than Mar-09’s (58.1%).