Consumer Confidence Bounces Back in December
Shoppers’ interest may shift to services over big-ticket items in 2023, said economist Lynn Franco.

However, a shift in consumer behavior may be on the horizon, with some predicting shoppers will choose services over big-ticket items in 2023.
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index climbed to 108.3 in December from 101.4 in November.
“Consumer confidence bounced back in December, reversing consecutive declines in October and November to reach its highest level since April 2022,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board.
The Present Situation Index, which measures consumers’ outlook on current business and labor market conditions, rose to 147.2 in December from 138.3 in November.
The percentage of consumers who said current business conditions are “good” was up to 19 percent from 18 percent last month, while those who said conditions were “bad” decreased, down to 20 percent, compared with 24 percent in November.
Consumers also had a more positive view of the labor market, with 48 percent of respondents saying jobs are “plentiful,” up from 45 percent last month.
The percentage of respondents who felt jobs were “hard to get” was down to 12 percent from 14 percent last month.
The Conference Board’s Expectations Index, which measures consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, rose to 82.4 from 76.7.
Notably, the index is still hovering around 80, which is a level associated with recession, said the Conference Board.
Respondents took a slightly more optimistic view of the short-term business outlook, with 20.4 percent expecting business conditions to improve, up from 19.8 percent in November.
Fewer expected conditions to worsen, down to 20 percent from 21 percent last month.
Consumers’ view of the short-term labor market was also positive, with more respondents expecting more jobs to be available, up to 20 percent from 19 percent.
Fewer respondents expect there to be fewer jobs, down to 18 percent from 21 percent.
Consumers were slightly more pessimistic about short-term financial prospects, with 16.7 percent expecting incomes to increase, down from 17.1 percent last month.
However, fewer respondents expect their incomes to decrease, down to 13 percent from 16 percent last month.
“The Present Situation and Expectations Indexes improved due to consumers’ more favorable view regarding the economy and jobs,” said Franco.
Inflation expectations in December reached their lowest level since September 2021, she said, due in part to the recent decline in gas prices.
More people planned for vacations but plans to buy homes and big-ticket appliances waned.
“This shift in consumers’ preference from big-ticket items to services will continue in 2023, as will headwinds from inflation and interest rate hikes,” she added.
The cutoff date for preliminary results from the monthly Consumer Confidence Survey was Dec. 15.
The Latest

Ryan Perry, who has been with De Beers since 2002, also will be leaving the company next year.

The watch seller’s new index tracks sales data from 14 brands, including Rolex and Patek Philippe.

The industry veteran will step down from both roles in April 2024.

Without the ability to instill confidence within the industry and directly to the consumer, a diamond holds very little value.

Tanzanite, turquoise, and zircon are all options for December babies, who sometimes “get the birthday shaft,” Amanda Gizzi writes.


The lab-grown diamond brand also collaborated with the website The Future Rocks on a collection launching today.

The company said it is facing a “challenging retail environment” but is prepared for the holiday season.

With holiday proposals right around the corner, encourage your customers to go for platinum when making the big purchase.

It’s the hero piece of the newest "Green Jewel" collection, a collaborative offering from the two mines.

The 15.48-carat fancy intense “Pink Supreme” topped Christie’s fall jewelry auction in Asia, while a Patek Philippe led the watch sale.

Chris Cramer, who also spent time at Gen Z intimates brand Parade, will take on the dual role.

The stone headlining the upcoming sale could fetch up to $5 million.

The retail offering lets customers track their diamond’s journey.

The Luele mine is expected to eventually make the country the world’s third-largest diamond producer.

The growing company also plans to open more of its own boutiques.

The best quotes from the Oracle of Omaha and his right-hand man Charlie Munger from the 2018 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting.

J. Dostie Jewelers will move from Lewiston to Yarmouth this spring.

It’s the company’s second location in Tennessee.

You can have this jewelry, why don’t you take it?

Next year’s milestone show will be full of educational programming and collaborations.

Sales experts and a diamantaire share their best advice on how to send customers home with diamond jewelry.

The brand has released five new collections.

The Albany Business Review recently honored the 100-year-old company.

To honor his legacy, GIA has set up a scholarship in his name.

There have been eight attacks in the last month, spanning from a jewelry store parking lot in Rhode Island to highways in California.

These 15 pieces of jewelry celebrate November babies and the hues of citrine and topaz that reflect the colors of the season.

The money will help a nonprofit rehabilitate sea turtles.