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Electronics Group Says Consumer Confidence Highest in Three Years

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) reported that its Index of Consumer Expectations rose 4 points in January to 177.3. That’s the highest reading for the index since February 2008. The index reached an all-time low in November, but has risen…

By Paul Ausick
Published January 24, 2012, 12:06pm ET · 1 min read

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The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) reported that its Index of Consumer Expectations rose 4 points in January to 177.3. That’s the highest reading for the index since February 2008.

The index reached an all-time low in November, but has risen steadily since then. CEA’s chief economist noted, “Sentiment has improved by more than 13 percent in the past two months, which is a hopeful sign of consumer expectations for recovery in 2012.”

Consumer confidence in technology dropped 5 points in January, although the three-month average remains near an all-time high. Regarding enthusiasm for new tech products, the group’s economist said, “[E]xcitement remains high for the new and innovative tech products hitting the market this year.”

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Paul Ausick

Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

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