Swine Flu 1976

Some of us remember the swine flu scare back in 1976. I was in college and vaccination was mandatory - the option go home. Click here for some great archival photos and a PSA from the period.

Consumer Reports Index

From ConsumerReports.org

Economists–and a stock market rally–may be heralding a turnaround in the American economy, but that news hasn't reached many consumers, say the latest results from our new Consumer Reports Index, launched today. The monthly Index, actually a composite of several indices, found consumers less in the mood for shopping for major and minor purchases than they were even four months ago. In fact, these most recent results for the Consumer Reports Index reverse upward trends in several aspects of consumer thinking, according to responses from a nationally representative sample of households polled between July 30 and August 2. Here are some details:

• We feel less well off than a couple of months ago. The Consumer Reports Consumer Sentiment index, which measures Americans' feelings about their personal financial well-being, was down to 41.1 from a high of 48.5 in June. A score above 50 represents optimism
• We're facing increasing financial difficulties. The Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index found specific weak spots related to missed payments of major (non-mortgage) bills; credit-card interest rates and fees; and job losses and/or difficulty finding work. One in seven consumers had trouble affording medication or medical bills. (Click here for our free Consumer Reports Health guides to saving money on medication.)
• We're feeling more stress. The Consumer Reports Stress Index reached 63.5, close to its high point of 63.8 in April. An index score of below 50 means lower stress.
• We bought less in the last 30 days, and plan to buy less in the next 30 days. The Consumer Reports Retail Index shows purchases declined the most among small and large appliances. A bright spot was personal electronics--think smart phones–where 22.2 percent of consumers said they'd made purchases; however that was down from 27.1 percent the prior month. In the upcoming month, if the trend continues, consumers plan on buying fewer personal electronics.
  We lost more jobs than we gained. The Consumer Reports Employment Index was 48 percent, down from 49.9 in July. A score of 50 means job equilibrium.
  Read more about the Consumer Reports Index, including how it was conducted, click here.