For Immediate Release March 7, 2002
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

Dallas-Fort Worth—The Decision Analyst U.S. Economic Index for February, based on a nationwide Internet survey conducted the last 10 days of February, indicates that U.S. economic activity continued its increase in February, reaching 112. February’s number was slightly higher than January’s 110, which itself was slightly higher than December’s 108, as shown below.

U.S. consumers remain confident about the security of their jobs, and confident about the state of the job market in general. Consumers’ optimism that stock market prices will rise in coming months seems to have returned as well. Consumers’ reported plans to buy high-ticket products within the next six months has held steady since a sharp increase in January. Consumer reports of business activity at their workplaces saw the biggest increase in the last six months.

"Clearly the recession is nearing an end, based on the fact that the Economic Index has held relatively steady for more than 12 months," said Jerry W. Thomas, CEO and President of Decision Analyst. "Yet consumers do not seem to be certain as to how much of an impact the recovery will have on their economic lives in 2002."

Canada Bounces Back

The Decision Analyst Economic Index for Canada indicates that the Canadian economy is bouncing back as well, though the steady December-through-January rise seen in the U.S. Economic Index didn’t hold true for Canada. The Economic Index for Canada stood at 107 in December, fell to 102 in January and rose again to 109 in February.

Decision Analyst Canadian Economic Index For The Past 13 Months

The Decision Analyst Economic Index is based on a monthly Internet survey of several thousand households balanced by gender, age, and geography. The survey is conducted over the Internet during the last 10 days of each month, and the index is immediately calculated from nine different economic measurements, using a sophisticated econometric model. The result is a snapshot of current U.S. economic activity, as seen through the eyes of representative consumers.

Decision Analyst also conducts similar economic research in Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, and Australia.

Whenever the Decision Analyst Economic Index is greater than 110, it tends to signal an expanding economy. An index of 100 to 110 suggests a stagnant economy, and an index below 100 generally indicates economic contraction. These guidelines vary by country, however.

For additional information contact:
Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 1.800.ANALYSIS (262.5974)
Address: 604 Avenue H East
Arlington, TX 76011

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