For Immediate Release April 7, 2003
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

Arlington, Texas (April 07, 2003)-Decision Analyst, Inc.'s U.S. Economic Index remained depressed in March, completing a first quarter marked by little evidence of impending recovery. The Index (calculated from a nationwide, online survey conducted during the last 10 days of each month) inched up by just one point from the February value, coming in at the low level of 106.

"The slight increase in the Index indicated by the March data cannot hide the overall stagnation afflicting the economy," said Jerry W. Thomas, President and CEO of Decision Analyst, an international marketing research and marketing consulting firm. "A glance at the Index values since the beginning of the year shows the economy is really just standing still on the verge of recession. Given the uncertainties of a nation at war, that's perhaps little surprise."

Those uncertainties show strong signs of impacting the ordinary American on the street, with consumer purchasing intent diving to its lowest level [97 points] since December 2001 and confidence in employment status hitting its lowest level since the Index was first launched by Decision Analyst in 1999.

"The average American is clearly worried by the international situation and the unknowns posed by the war, and this uncertainty is reflected in reduced intentions to make major purchases," Thomas says. "What's surprising about the data is that confidence in the stock market, which is traditionally unsettled by war, rose strongly last month [up 30% (to111 from 86) over February]. That may be nothing more than a reflection of the belief that, after the prolonged fall in stock values suffered over the last 18 months, the market has nowhere to go but up."

Methodology

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 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 concurrent economic surveys 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 value of 100 to 110 suggests a stagnant economy, and 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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