Post-ABC CCI Stabilizes, For Now

A month-long slide in consumer comfort has stalled, for now.

With gas prices falling (down 8 cents this week according to the Department of Energy), the Washington Post-ABC News Consumer Comfort Index (CCI) stands at -13 on its scale from -100 to +100.

The Post-ABC News CCI combines the public's perception of the national economy, the state of their personal finances and the buying climate.

In terms of consumer comfort, 2007 has been a roller coaster ride. Since climbing to a more than five-year high of +2 in March, the index has toppled, with consumers giving increasingly negative assessments of the national economy, the buying climate and even of their own finances.

The tumble accelerated in May, echoing a sharp rise in gas prices. The index dropped more than 10 points from the first week of May until last week, when it reached a 2007 low of -15. The index last fell that far that fast in the spring of 2006, amid another spike in gas prices.

The Washington Post-ABC News Consumer Comfort Index (CCI) is a rolling average based on telephone interviews with 1,000 randomly selected adults nationwide conducted over the previous four-week period. Interviewing for this week's data concluded on June 10, 2007. New data are released every Tuesday at 5 p.m.

More information on the Washington Post-ABC News Consumer Comfort Index can be found here.