Consumer Comfort Jumps Sharply

The stock market's gyrations aren't apparently hurting spirits, at least not the consumer comfort index which jumped an unusually sharp 2.6 points in the February 11 week to 57.0 and a new high for the expansion. The assessment of the economy is the highest in 17 years and the buying climate is the best in 18 years. This report along with monthly consumer confidence data have been holding at long-term highs, unlike the consumer sentiment report which is flat nor retail sales which yesterday proved unexpectedly weak. Watch tomorrow for the preliminary consumer sentiment index for February.