/ 01.25.2011 12:00AM
CEA: Consumer Confidence Highest in Nearly Three Years
ARLINGTON, VA.: Consumer confidence in the overall economy
reached its highest level in nearly three years this month, according to the
latest figures from the Consumer Electronics Association. CEA further said
confidence in technology reached an all-time high for the month of January.
For the sixth consecutive month, consumer confidence in the overall direction
of the economy improved, CEA said. The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations--ICE--rose
one point in January to 175.7, the highest since February of 2008. The ICE,
which measures consumer expectations about the broader economy, is up more than
nine points from this time last year.
The lobby’s Index of Consumer Technology Expectations--or ICTE, like the
rapper--reached a peak in January, despite a drop from December. The Ice-T fell
5.6 points to 88.1--a high for the post-holiday period when batteries begin to
fail and fingerprints have smudged pristine new touch screens. The Ice-T
measures people’s expectations about technology spending. January’s number is
up four points from last year.