TV-Buying Intentions Remained Steady in October, Says Conference Board Report

Consumer intentions to buy TV sets remained steady in October compared with September, according to preliminary data in the Conference Board’s monthly survey. Nielsen canvassed 5,000 consumers for the Conference Board through Oct. 13, and found 12.7 percent said they plan to buy a TV set in the next six months, unchanged from 12.7 percent in September, but down from 13.6 percent in August and up slightly from 12.4 percent in October 2015, the board reported Tuesday. But the Consumer Confidence Index declined in October after back-to-back gains in August and September, it said: “Consumers’ assessment of current business and employment conditions softened, while optimism regarding the short-term outlook retreated somewhat. However, consumers’ expectations regarding their income prospects in the coming months were relatively unchanged. Overall, sentiment is that the economy will continue to expand in the near-term, but at a moderate pace.”