COUNTRY Financial Security Index RSS Feed

Americans' Financial Optimism Hits Two-Year High

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Bloomington, Ill., February 21, 2012 – Americans are regaining confidence in their financial security. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® increased for the third straight month. Higher savings rates and more positivity about debt repayment pushed the reading up one point to 65.8, the highest level since December 2009.

Americans End 2011 on a Financial High Note

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Bloomington, Ill., December 20, 2011 – While financial sentiments steadily eroded for most of 2011, Americans ended the year on a more upbeat note. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® increased again in December, jumping 1.6 points to 64.8. Americans’ confidence in both their ability to pay debts and their overall financial state, which each rose four points, helped drive this increase.

Americans remain resilient despite tough economic times

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., October 18, 2011 – Americans’ financial security sentiments improved slightly in October after steadily declining for the past six months and hitting an all-time low in August. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® inched up 0.8 points to 63.2, driven by an uptick in nearly all aspects of financial security.

Perfect Economic Storm Leads to Record-low Sentiments

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., August 16, 2011 – The persistent storm clouds hanging over the U.S. economy have been especially active recently. The uncertainty surrounding the debt ceiling debate, Standard and Poor’s U.S. credit rating downgrade, stock market declines and the stubbornly-high unemployment rate created a “perfect storm” of economic anxiety this summer. The result left a significant impression on Americans’ financial security sentiments. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® dropped 1.3 points to 62.4 in August, the lowest reading in the survey’s history.

Has the Retirement Nest Egg Cracked?

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., June 21, 2011 – Americans’ ongoing uneasiness about their finances is putting some cracks in how they feel about their retirement nest eggs. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® dropped one point to 63.7 in June, in part because confidence in retirement reached an all-time low.

Financial Security Sentiments Remain Stagnant in April

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., April 19, 2011 — In spite of recent economic growth, Americans remain pessimistic about their finances. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® dipped just 0.2 points to 64.7 in April. Improvements in the ability to save and pay debts, and confidence in college funding offset a decrease in Americans’ optimism about their overall financial security and ability to retire.

Americans Ring in New Year with Improved Financial Security Sentiments

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Bloomington, Ill., February 15, 2011 — Americans are beginning 2011 with renewed confidence as financial security sentiments reached their highest level since April 2010. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® rose 0.8 points to 64.9 in February. This marks the first time Americans have started the year with improved sentiments since the COUNTRY Index began in 2007.

Uncertain 2011 Financial Outlook Doesn’t Dampen Holiday Cheer

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Bloomington, Ill., December 21, 2010 — While uncertain about their 2011 money matters, Americans are more upbeat about the current direction of their finances as the holidays near. A survey conducted for the December COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® found 15 percent say their level of financial security is improving, up two points from October and the largest number of people to feel this way all year.

Americans' Financial Security Sentiments Improve in October

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., October 19, 2010 — Americans’ financial security sentiments inched up in October for the first time in six months. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® increased 0.7 points to 64.4 this month. This uptick was driven primarily by an increase in confidence about college funding, retirement and the ability to save.

Americans' Financial Security Sentiments Retreat in August

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., August 17, 2010 — Americans continued to show concern about the state of the economy and their personal finances in August. After increasing in April and then remaining stable in June, the COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® dropped 1.1 points to 63.7 in August.

Americans' Financial Security Sentiments Remain Stable at Midyear

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., June 15, 2010 — After increasing in April, Americans’ level of confidence in their overall financial security held steady in June, as the COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® ticked down just one-tenth of a point to 64.8. A more optimistic near-term view of Americans’ finances was offset by continued uncertainty about longer range issues.

Financial Security Sentiments Regain Lost Ground in April

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., April 20, 2010 — While 2010 began with dismal financial security sentiments, Americans now feel more optimistic about nearly all aspects of their financial security. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® increased 1.8 points in April to 64.9, recovering ground from a record-setting decline in February.

Americans Struggle to Find Stability as 2010 Begins

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:00:00 -0600

Bloomington, Ill., February 16, 2010 - The New Year is off to a rocky start when it comes to how Americans feel about their personal finances. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® took a 3.2 point tumble in February to 63.1, the biggest single drop the bi-monthly measure has ever recorded and an indication that Americans remain undecided about their confidence in their own level of financial security.

Americans Split Over Finances in 2010

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:00:00 -0600

Bloomington, Ill., December 15, 2009 – As 2009 draws to a close, Americans are almost evenly divided on their future financial predictions for 2010, according to a survey conducted in connection with this month's COUNTRY Financial Security Index^®. Twenty-nine percent say things will be better, 28 percent say things will be worse and 32 percent think the status quo will prevail.

Financial Security Sentiment Improves For First Time since August 2008

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:00:00 -0500

Bloomington, Ill., October 20 — For the first time in more than a year, more Americans are feeling confident about their financial security. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index^® jumped 3.6 points in October, marking the largest single shift in sentiment since the measure began in February 2007.