Consumer Intentions to Buy TVs Fell Sharply in December, Conference Board Says

Consumer intentions to buy TV sets fell sharply in December from November, according to preliminary data in the Conference Board’s monthly survey. Of 5,000 homes canvassed by Nielsen for the Conference Board through Dec. 15, 12.9 percent of consumers said they plan to buy a TV set in the next six months, down from 14.2 percent in November and 13.2 percent in December 2014, the Conference Board said. The Consumer Confidence Index, which fell “moderately” in November, improved in December, rising to 96.5 points from 92.6 in November, the Conference Board said in a Tuesday announcement. “As 2015 draws to a close, consumers’ assessment of the current state of the economy remains positive, particularly their assessment of the job market,” it said. “Looking ahead to 2016, consumers are expecting little change in both business conditions and the labor market. Expectations regarding their financial outlook are mixed, but the optimists continue to outweigh the pessimists.”