We have to go back a few months before the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers to find a similar figure. This month US consumer confidence soared well beyond analysts' expectations. The relative index, published by the Conference Board, rose in November to 73,7 points from 73,1 points in October (data revised from the initial 72,2 points). It's about the highest value since February 2008.
Consumer optimism was mostly recorded towards the job market, despite the negative impact caused by Hurricane Sandy. The most incisive increase was recorded on the prospects for the next six months (85,1 points from 84 in October), while it remained stable on the current situation, at 56,6 from 56,7 points.
On the front of the Real Estate Marketinstead, in September the Case Shiller index for home prices in the top 20 US cities rose 0,3% on a month and 3% on a year, from +0,8% on the month in August. This is the sixth consecutive increase.
The index of the top ten cities recorded an increase of 0,3% monthly and 2,1% annually. "Although we are entering the weakest season of the year for the real estate sector, the figure continues to grow," said David Blitzer, president of the organization that publishes the figure.
