Israeli Consumer Confidence Index stable in December 2011

The Present Situation index rose by 0.9 point and the Expectations index fell by 0.8 points.
 
Bank Hapoalim’s and TNS Tele seker’s Israeli Consumer Confidence Index fell by 0.1 point in December to a level of 131.6 (April 2002=100).
 
The Present Situation index rose by 0.9 point and the Expectations index fell by 0.8 points.
 
Bank Hapoalim economists: Consumer confidence remained stable at a relatively high level in 2011. During the year, the index fluctuated to a moderate extent around an average level of 132 points. Given the situation in the financial markets and the global crisis, this is quite good news.
 
Employment Expectations deteriorated during the year, a development that does not confirm to the decline in the unemployment rate to a level of 5.0% in October, as published by the CBS. The situation in the labor market will become clearly apparent once the Manpower Survey for the fourth quarter is published in another two months.
 
In the USA, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose again in December following the large increase recorded in November. In the UK a more moderate increase was recorded due to continuing uncertainty over the situation in the eurozone.