TV-Buying Intentions Fell in May for 2nd Straight Month, Conference Board Says

Consumer intentions to buy TV sets fell in May from April for the second straight month, according to preliminary data in the Conference Board’s monthly survey. Nielsen canvassed 5,000 consumers for the Conference Board through May 19, and 13.1 percent said they plan to buy a TV set in the next six months, down from 14.3 percent in April and 16.1 percent in March, and down from 14.4 percent in May 2015, the board said. The Consumer Confidence Index, which declined in April, fell again in May because “consumers remain cautious about the outlook for business and labor market conditions,” the Conference Board said Tuesday in its monthly report. “Consumers were less optimistic about the short-term outlook than last month.” Those expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months increased from 13.8 percent to 15.1 percent, but those expecting business conditions to worsen also rose, from 10.8 percent to 11.6 percent, it said.