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For Immediate Release February 2, 2004
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

Arlington, Texas - Confidence in economic growth is being hit by the weak jobs market, according to the latest data from Decision Analyst, Inc.'s U.S. Economic Index. The overall Index fell slightly to 111 in January, indicating continued moderate growth. Corporate hiring was down to a six-month low, and business activity was well off December's level.

"Falling confidence so soon into the recovery is worrying for the economy," said Jerry W. Thomas, President and CEO of Decision Analyst, a marketing research and marketing consulting firm. "It may be no more than just a brief pause after several strong months, but all is certainly not perfect in the U.S. economy."

The January Economic Index saw reported business activity tumble over five percent from December's level. The Index was also dragged down in part by a decline in corporate hiring. On the upside, confidence in the stock markets held firm and consumer purchase intent was up strongly, jumping to the highest level in almost two years.

"There are still many positive trends showing right now," Thomas says. "The stock markets are continuing upwards, and rising consumer purchasing intent suggests rising confidence among the general public. The problem is that without an expansion in the labor market consumer confidence will soon sag. The next few months will be critical."

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, Netherlands, Mexico 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.

About Decision Analyst

Decision Analyst, Inc. (www.decisionanalyst.com) is a leading marketing research and marketing consulting firm specializing in advertising testing, strategy research, new product development, and advanced modeling for marketing decision optimization. The firm delivers competitive advantage to clients throughout the world in the consumer packaged goods, telecommunications, retail, high technology, medical and pharmaceutical, utilities, and e-commerce industries. Decision Analyst operates American Consumer Opinion® Online, one of the world's largest Internet consumer opinion panels, with more than 3.5 million participants.

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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