Deloitte Consumer Spending Index Moves Up Sharply in October

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index (Index) rose sharply in October, primarily due to the second consecutive and significant increase in new home prices. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending[i].

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120803/MM52028LOGO-a )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120803/MM52028LOGO-b )

"The housing market appears to be recovering after bottoming out, while energy prices have begun to recede and lift some of the pressure on wages, boosting confidence and consumers' willingness to spend," said Carl Steidtmann, Deloitte's chief economist and author of the monthly Index.  "This may only be sustainable over the long term if legislative issues are resolved, including the fiscal cliff and debt ceiling, as consumers will start to see their first tax increases at the beginning of the year."

The Index, which comprises four components — tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices — rose sharply to 4.02 from a reading of 3.54 the previous month. 

"Rising consumer confidence should give retailers reason to celebrate during the holiday season, but the winds may shift in January, which should encourage retailers to make the most of this good news now," said Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and retail & distribution sector leader.  "The consumers who appear most optimistic about their holiday spending are those who have been coined 'omnichannel' shoppers, or those who use all channels to shop, including mobile phones, online and the store.   These consumers plan to spend 71 percent more on gifts than those who  shop only in stores, according to Deloitte's annual holiday survey.  We also found that nearly half (45 percent) of consumers plan to shop online.  These spending intentions give retailers reason to interact with consumers across physical and virtual storefronts to augment their messages and sales this holiday season."

Highlights of the Index include:

Tax Burden: The tax burden rose slightly in the most recent month and is at 11.04 percent. A rising tax burden is a sign of healthy growth in incomes. 

Initial Unemployment Claims: Jobless claims moved slightly higher to 373,800 from 371,000 in the previous month and  up 2 percent over last year.

Real Wages: Rising prices for food and energy are keeping downward pressure on wages, which dipped slightly to $8.68.

Real Home Prices:  Home prices continue to move up giving a lift to consumer confidence.  After years of declines, the three month moving average for real new home prices rose by their largest amount since December 2004, and nearly 8 percent higher from the same three-month period a year ago.

About Deloitte's Retail & Distribution Practice

Deloitte is a leading presence in the retail and distribution industry, providing audit, consulting, risk management, financial advisory and tax services to 80 percent of the Fortune 500 retailers.  With more than 1,400 professionals, Deloitte's retail & distribution practice provides insights, services and solutions assisting retailers across all major subsectors including apparel, grocery, food and drug, wholesale and distribution and online. For more information about Deloitte's retail & distribution sector, please visit www.deloitte.com/us/retail-distribution.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.  Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

[i] The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index is a proprietary methodology that analyzes economic factors to gauge consumer cash flow as an indicator of future spending.  Deloitte's analysis includes data from the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Labor.

SOURCE Deloitte