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Press Release Archives | February 2004 Economic Index
For Immediate Release March 8, 2004
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166
Increasing Business Activity Driving Slow Recovery,
Decision Analyst's Economic Index Finds
Arlington, Texas (March 08, 2004) - The economy is continuing its slow path to
recovery, according to the latest data from Decision Analyst, Inc.'s U.S.
Economic Index. The overall Index nudged up slightly to 112 in February,
indicating moderate economic growth. There was particularly strong expansion in
business activity, up to a two-year high level.
"With the Index up again, it appears last month's dip in confidence was just a
momentary blip," said Jerry W. Thomas, President and CEO of Decision Analyst, a
marketing research and marketing consulting firm. "Looking at the overall
picture the Index has been moving steadily in a positive direction for a whole
year now."
The February Economic Index saw reported business activity surge six percent
higher than the January level, reaching a new post-September 11th peak.
The Index also saw strong positive growth in consumer credit and in corporate
hiring trends, with confidence in hiring at an 18-month high level.
"There are some key positive trends beginning to emerge," Thomas says.
"Increasing business activity is finally beginning to provide a boost to the
jobs market. That should provide a welcome fillip for consumer confidence.
Indeed, the rise [in February] in consumer credit is a clear indicator
confidence is already on the increase."
Methodology
The Decision Analyst Economic Index is based on a monthly Internet survey of
several thousand households balanced by gender, age, and geography. The survey
is conducted during the last 10 days of each month, and the Index is
immediately calculated from nine different economic measurements, using a
sophisticated econometric model. The result is a snapshot of current U.S.
economic activity, as seen through the eyes of representative consumers.
Decision Analyst also conducts concurrent economic surveys in Canada, the U.K.,
Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Mexico and Australia. Whenever the
Decision Analyst Economic Index is greater than 110, it tends to signal an
expanding economy. An Index value of 100 to 110 suggests a stagnant economy,
and below 100 generally indicates economic contraction. These guidelines vary
by country, however.
About Decision Analyst
Decision Analyst, Inc. is a leading marketing research and marketing
consulting firm specializing in advertising testing, strategy research, new
product development, and advanced modeling for marketing decision optimization.
The firm delivers competitive advantage to clients throughout the world in the
consumer packaged goods, telecommunications, retail, high technology, medical
and pharmaceutical, utilities, and e-commerce industries. Decision Analyst operates
American Consumer Opinion® Online, one of the world's largest Internet consumer
opinion panels, with more than 3.5 million participants.
For additional information contact:
Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 1.800.ANALYSIS (262.5974)
Address: 604 Avenue H East
Arlington, TX 76011
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