---
title: Consumer Confidence Is the Highest It's Been Since Before the Recession
description: Consumer confidence has increased in September, against economist predictions that it would fall.
authors:
  - name: Kerry Close
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published: '2016-09-27T16:14:33.000Z'
modified: '2024-04-17T03:55:39.000Z'
section: Economy and Politics
tags:
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word_count: 212
canonical: https://money.com/consumer-confidence-recession/
type: Article
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![Woman shopping and paying with a debit or credit card](https://img.money.com/2016/09/gettyimages-586066184.jpg)
*Consumer confidence rose to the highest level since the recession.*

Consumers think the U.S. economy is on the rebound, according to the Conference Board's [consumer confidence index](https://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerconfidence.cfm), which was released Tuesday and is based on a monthly survey of 5,000 U.S. households.

Respondents who were asked their opinion this month on overall business conditions, job prospects and household income -- now and for the next six months -- indicated that their confidence was at its highest level since the summer of 2007. That's in contrast to economist predictions, including those [surveyed by the Wall Street *Journal*](http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-consumer-confidence-rose-in-september-1474985597), who expected the index to dip this month.

***Read More*: [Are Democrats or Republicans Better For the Economy?](https://money.com/democrat-republican-president-better-economy/)**

Growing consumer confidence could not only be a sign that the U.S. economy is recovering from the recession, but also that it can sustain economic growth. Consumer confidence has seen a strong couple of months; even after Britain voted to leave the European Union in June, confidence levels [remained relatively constant](https://money.com/american-consumers-confidence/) in July.

Consumers felt particularly confident about the job market: The proportion of people who described jobs as "plentiful" rose to 27.9% this month, the highest since 2007. However, slightly fewer people in September said they plan to make a major purchase like a car, home or household appliance in the next months than did in August.

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