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Mid-State consumer confidence returns to pre-recession levels

mtsu.edu/consumer

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  It’s taken more than seven years, but mid-state consumer confidence has finally returned to pre-recession levels.

A quarterly survey conducted by Middle Tennessee State University says consumer outlook jumped more than 100 points in a single quarter.

Survey Director Dr. Tim Graeff says these are the best numbers he’s seen since 2007. He says consumers are feeling good about their current finances and even better about future prospects.

That’s good news for mid-state retailers in the midst of the all important holiday shopping season.

“More people expect to spend more this year than last year. Specifically with respect to Christmas spending, we find that there’s an increase in the percentage who say they’re going to spend more on Christmas and holiday gifts this year than they did last year. So that’s a good sign for retailers and businesses.”

Graeff says about half of respondents said they would spend more than $500 on Christmas gifts, while nearly 1 in 4 said they would be spending a thousand dollars or more.

The MTSU consumer confidence phone surveywas completed this past week and involved 235 mid-state residents.