Despite fresh record highs for stocks, previously exuberant Conference Board consumer confidence was unable to make new highs and instead tumbled by the most in 4 months, missing expectations by the most since October. This catches down to Bloomberg's less confident consumer and suggests the hopes and dreams of a nation looking for moar multiple expansion may be drifting away…
As we have noted previously – this move in confidence is key…
But, it's all about confidence… investors will not be willing to pay increasing multiples unless they are confident that the future streams of earnings are sustainable and forecastable… And simply put, the current levels of Consumer Sentiment need to almost double for the US equity market tp approach historical multiple valuation levels…
[19]
and the cycle appears to be shifting…
Via Citi,
Is consumer confidence set to turn?
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Consumer Confidence is once again following a dynamic where we see it move higher for 4 years and 4 months before beginning to collapse
- Moves higher from 1996-2000 with a smaller dip halfway through in October 1998
- Moves higher from 2003-2007 with a smaller dip hallway through in October 2005
- Moves higher and so far tops out in June 2013. Also sees a small dip halfway through in October 2011.
via Zero Hedge http://ift.tt/OylAKM Tyler Durden