The consumer-confidence data, which are reflected as a number, fell to 100 in the second quarter from 103 in the first quarter. The slight downturn was attributed to the upcoming election cycle, budgetary concerns and international events.
Confidence among chief executives also fell one notch to 61 from 62 in the same period, and small-business-owner confidence also fell to 61 from 64 in the first-to-second quarter.
About 1,600 businesses, members of the Thurston, Lacey, Tumwater chambers of commerce and the Olympia Downtown Association were polled for the survey.
Consumers, too, shared their thoughts about buying and selling goods. Although those results were not as high in as past surveys, 78 percent still rated selling a house as “bad,” while 70 percent said buying a house was “good.” Buying an appliance and buying a car also received a favorable rating.
Consumers, though, still have concerns about the job market, with 57 percent saying labor conditions were “bad” in the second quarter.
Consumer and business confidence data has been tracked by Saint Martin’s since the first quarter of 2008. The data is released as part of the Thurston County Economic Development Council’s economic-vitality index.
rboone@theolympian.com
360-754-5403
theolympian.com/bizblog
@rolf_boone
