Property tax and economic stimulus plans boost consumer confidence

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 26, 2008 – Passage of the national economic stimulus package and state property tax amendment helped boost Florida’s consumer confidence by four points to 74 in February after last month’s decline to its lowest level in 16 years, a new University of Florida study reports.Four of the five components that make up the index rose this month. The largest increase was in perceptions of national economic conditions over the next year, which jumped 11 points to 66, followed by expectations of national economic conditions over the next five years, which rose eight points to 82. Two components edged up two points: perceptions of personal finances now compared with a year ago to 67, and expectations of personal finances a year from now to 84. The only component to fall was perceptions of whether it is a good time to buy big-ticket items, which dropped three points to 71, its lowest point since December 1991.

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