PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Randall S. Eisenberg AU - John Yozzo TI - Trying to Make Sense of Consumer Confidencee DP - 2004 Mar 20 TA - Trading PG - 22--28 VI - 2004 IP - 1 4099 - http://guides.pm-research.com/content/2004/1/22.short 4100 - http://guides.pm-research.com/content/2004/1/22.full AB - Consumer spending was largely credited with cushioning the economic blow from the 9/11 tragedies and the 2001 recession. Two marquee names in consumer confidence measurements—The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment and The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index—are compared and contrasted as the authors point to indications that job issues have surfaced as paramount concern for consumers, even two years into an economic recovery. This article cautions retail investors with high expectations for 2004 that anxiety over job security will color personal consumption trends, particularly among the low-to-middle income customer.