Overall confidence is up:

2.0 points in Albany to 87.9 (#1)

2.5 points in NYC to 81.9 (#2)

5.2 points in Binghamton to 79.7 (#3)

0.3 of a point in Rochester to79.6 (#4)

5.1 points in Syracuse to 78.2 (#5)

Current confidence is up:

5.3 points in Albany to 97.7 (#1)

7.9 points in Syracuse to 92.4 (#2)

5.3 points in Binghamton to 88.7 (#3)

0.7 of a point in Rochester to 87.5 (#4)

6.4 points in NYC to 84.1 (#6)

Future confidence is up:

5.1 points in Binghamton to 74.0 (#4)

1.3 points in Buffalo to 65.0 (#6)

3.4 points in Syracuse to 69.1 (#5)

Future confidence stayed the same:

In NYC at 80.5 (#2)

In Rochester at 74.4 (#3)

Overall confidence is down:

 1.6 points in Buffalo to 73.2  (#6)

Current confidence is down:

6.1 points in Buffalo to 86.0 (#5)

Future confidence is down:

0.2 of a point in Albany to 81.5 (#1)

   The “regions” looked at in SRI’s quarterly consumer confidence index report are “metropolitan statistical areas” (MSA’s). An MSA is a core urbanized area of 50,000 or more people plus adjacent counties with strong social or economic ties, as measured by commuting patterns.  In this report, an MSA is referred to by the name of its principal city.

   SRI has been following quarterly consumer confidence trends by MSA since the 4^th quarter of 2001 – the quarter following the 9/11 attacks that rocked New York City, the State, the nation and the world.

   In one year (since the 3^rd quarter of 2003), consumer confidence in:

-Albany went up 2.3 points and remained #1

-NYC went up 12.6 points and moved up from #6 to #2

-Binghamton went up 9.3 points and moved up from #5 to #3

-Rochester went up 4.5 points and moved down from #3 to #4

-Syracuse went up 2.6 points and moved down from #2 to #5

-Buffalo went up 2.1 points and moved down from #4 to #6

Buying Plans: 3rd Quarter 2004, by MSA

Albany

Binghamton

Buffalo

NYC

Rochester

Syracuse

Car/Truck

16.7%

(up 0.6 pts)

10.9%

(down 3.7 pts)

15.1%

(down 1.0 pts)

11.8%

(down 3.3 pts)

14.5%

(down 0.4 pts)

13.8%

(down 0.1 pts)

Computer

11.6%

(up 0.4 pts)

8.5%

(down 3.7 pts)

12.9%

(up 2.2 pts)

17.0%

(down 1.6 pts)

11.4%

(up 1.6 pts)

11.7%

(up 1.7 pts)

Furniture

19.9%

(down 1.8 pts)

13.3%

(down 2.3 pts)

15.1%

(up 0.7 pts)

23.7%

(down 2.6 pts)

15.0%

(down 2.6 pts)

15.0%

(down 3.2 pts)

Home

4.6%

(up 0.5 pts)

4.1%

(down 0.5 pts)

7.1 %

(up 2.5 pts)

6.9%

(down 2.4 pts)

3.4%

(down 0.5 pts)

4.1%

(down 0.3 pts)

Maj. Home Improvement

20.8%

(down 3.1 pts)

18.2%

(down 1.3 pts)

16.3%

(down 3.2 pts)

14.7%

(down 3.8 pts)

16.7%

(down 4.5 pts)

22.6%

(down 2.7 pts)

     The intent of the Consumer Confidence Index is to measure peoples’ willingness to spend, as opposed to their ability to spend. The six MSA’s studied - Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, and Syracuse - are profiled in an attempt to provide regional measures of the state’s economic health.

   The SRI survey measures current and future consumer confidence, which combined provides the overall consumer confidence.

“It was a strange summer for the economy,” notes Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, Siena College professor of finance and statistics and SRI Director. “Overall confidence is up nearly everywhere  - except Buffalo - despite a quarter of bad news: high energy prices, poor stock market performance and the war.  Offsetting that is job growth and low interest rates.  Consumers are OK with the present, but worried about tomorrow. This is reflected in buying plans, which are mostly down.”