Metro Market: St. Louis

As 2009 draws to a close, St. Louis residents are cautiously optimistic their finances will not falter further in the New Year, according to a COUNTRY Financial survey. Nearly one third (32 percent) expect 2010 to be better for them financially and another 31 percent expect it to be about the same. Twenty-six percent think the New Year will be worse for their money matters than 2009.

St. Louis residents’ predictions come as the local COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® jumped 3.7 points to 67.7 in December as residents grew more upbeat about their ability to save, send their children to college and provide for their family should they die or be disabled. The national COUNTRY Index remained stable in December, slipping only 0.1 point to 66.3.

Polling of St. Louis residents revealed:

Fifty-three percent were able to set aside money for savings or investments in December, a six-point jump from October and the most to be able to save since April.
There was a nine point increase to 67 percent in the number of residents confident they will have the financial resources to send their children to college.
Sixty-six percent are confident their family would live comfortably if they died or were disabled compared to just 57 percent who felt this way in October.
Thirty-nine percent currently rate their overall level of financial security as excellent or good, a five point increase since October.

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