ANN ARBOR – Consumer confidence posted its fourth consecutive monthly gain in November, rising to its highest level since July 2007. The November gain was due to improved personal finances as well as a more favorable outlook for employment. Importantly, consumers expressed much more favorable buying plans for durables and vehicles in the most recent survey. Favorable views toward purchases of large household durables were at their highest level since 2007, and favorable vehicle buying attitudes were the most favorable since 2005. Importantly, the gains in buying plans were due to large gains among younger and lower income households. These gains arrived just in time to boost holiday spending, and indicate that total consumer expenditures can be expected to increase by 2.9% in 2015.

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