Decision Analyst’s Economic Index U.S. Census Divisions September 2019

Only one Census Division increased in the past 12 months, the West South Central Census Division rose 2 points. The Pacific and the New England Census Divisions each declined 5 points, and the West North Central Division declined 1 point.

September 2019 US Census Divisions Economic Index

 
United States Economic Index

The Decision Analyst U.S. Economic Index stood at 114 in September 2019, an increase of 1 point from the previous month and yet a decrease of 2 points from September 2018. This 12-month decrease foreshadows a slowing of the U.S. economy heading into the fall of 2019 and the first half of 2020. The Economic Index tends to lead overall U.S. economic activity by 6 to 12 months. Below is the past-20-year history of the U.S. Economic Index.

September 2019 US Economic Index

 

“The inversion of the yield curve, rising tariffs and trade barriers, and disruption of labor markets caused by immigration crackdowns are all having negative effects on the U.S. economy. A greater near-term worry, perhaps, is the impact that negative “a recession is coming” news stories are having on consumer psychology. The recent declines in the Economic Index suggests that consumers are becoming increasingly aware that a recession is a growing possibility—and it’s likely that consumers will postpone some discretionary purchases in coming months if the negative drumbeats continue,” said Jerry W. Thomas, President/CEO of Decision Analyst. “The weakening economies of the European Union plus the softness in China’s economy are also exerting downward pressure on U.S. economy activity. Slow growth, no growth, or a recession appears to be our destiny in coming quarters,” said Thomas.

Index History

The division-by-division results are presented in the graphs below. Remember, the Census Division graphs portray 3-month moving averages.

September 2019 New England Census Division
 

September 2019 Middle Atlantic Census Division
 

September 2019 East North Central Census Division
 

September 2019 West North Central Census Division
 

September 2019 South Atlantic Census Division
 

September 2019 East South Central Census Division
 

September 2019 West South Central Census Division
 

September 2019 Mountain Census Division
 

September 2019 Pacific Census Division
 

*Census Division Three-Month Moving Average

The Index numbers for the census divisions are three-month moving averages to smooth out fluctuations due to smaller sample sizes. The reported Index number averages the current month with the two previous months.

 
Methodology

The Decision Analyst Economic Index is based on a monthly online survey of several thousand households balanced by gender, age, and geography. The scientific survey is conducted in the last 10 days of each month. The Economic Index is calculated from 9 different economic measurements using a sophisticated econometric model. The result is a snapshot of coming economic activity in each country surveyed, as seen through the eyes of representative consumers living in the respective countries.

Decision Analyst conducts its concurrent economic surveys each month in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Peru, the Russian Federation, Spain, and the United States. Whenever the Decision Analyst Economic Index is greater than 110, it tends to signal an expanding economy. An Index value of 90 to 110 suggests a no-growth or slow-growth economy, and near or below 90 generally indicates economic contraction. These guidelines vary by country, however.

About Decision Analyst

Decision Analyst (www.decisionanalyst.com) is a global marketing research and analytical consulting firm specializing in strategy research, new product development, advertising testing, and advanced modeling for marketing decision optimization. For over 40 years, the firm has delivered competitive advantage to clients throughout the world in consumer packaged goods, telecommunications, retail, technology, medical, and automotive industries.

Media Contact

Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
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Arlington, TX 76011

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Interactive Economic Index

  Decision Analyst Economic Index

Click on the map above to open Decision Analyst's Interactive Map for the United States and its nine census divisions.

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