Deloitte Consumer Spending Index on the Rise

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Jan 24, 2014, 09:32 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index (Index) climbed in December. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending[i].

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"Economic fundamentals that influence consumer spending moved in a positive direction in the latest Index," said Daniel Bachman, Deloitte's senior U.S. economist. "Median home prices increased, while initial unemployment claims continued to fall. Real wages, which have remained stubbornly flat, increased slightly as well."

The Index, which comprises four components -- tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices – increased to 4.3 this month from 3.9 last month.

"Retailers need to keep their foot on the gas in light of the positive signals that suggest improved consumer confidence and spending levels in the months ahead," said Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and Retail & Distribution sector leader. "The holiday season underscored that consumers are not only willing to shop, but expect to do so on their time and on their terms. Retailers can keep up the momentum by targeting consumers across different channels and geographies with more personalized, high-touch connections through mobile and online points of contact that reach a broader swath of shoppers with greater precision."

Paul added that retailers should also consider how to reign in shoppers' dependence on discounts, through new products, assortment and service that entice shoppers to spend at full price points, to not only drive sales but preserve margins.

Highlights of the Index include:

Tax Burden: The tax rate is up now at 11.8 percent, a 0.6 percent increase from last month. A rising tax rate is associated with increasing incomes.

Initial Unemployment Claims: Claims declined 14 percent from the same period last year, falling to 324,000.

Real Wages: Real hourly wages rose 1.3 percent from this time last year to $8.83, showing a second month of accelerated increases.

Real New Home Prices: New home prices climbed to $116,000, an increase of more than 5 percent from the same time last year.

About Deloitte's Retail & Distribution Practice

Deloitte is a leading presence in the retail and distribution industry, providing audit, consulting, risk management, financial advisory and tax services to more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 retailers. With more than 1,400 professionals, Deloitte's retail & distribution practice provides insights, services and solutions assisting retailers across all major subsectors including apparel, grocery, food and drug, wholesale and distribution and online. For more information about Deloitte's retail & distribution sector, please visit www.deloitte.com/us/retail-distribution.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

[i] The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index is a proprietary methodology that analyzes economic factors to gauge consumer cash flow as an indicator of future spending. Deloitte's analysis includes data from the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Labor.

SOURCE Deloitte