For Immediate Release October 3, 2005
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

Arlington, Texas (October 3, 2005) - Decision Analyst's Economic Index has dropped for a third straight month to 103, the lowest number in the history of the index.

"The effects of Hurricane Katrina and the rising gasoline prices have unnerved the consumer," said Jerry W. Thomas, President and CEO of Decision Analyst, a marketing research and marketing consulting firm. "It is quite possible that the shocks from Hurricane Rita will cause even further declines in the U.S. Economic Index, since the September number of 103 was based on a time period when Hurricane Rita was making landfall. Until energy prices start declining, the economic outlook will remain uncertain."

The biggest decreases in the September indicators were for stocks (down 12 points), business activities (down 9 points), and consumer purchase intent (down 9 points). The most significant increase was for price, increasing 9 points.

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 between the 20th and 27th of each month, and the Index is immediately calculated from 9 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 UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and India. 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 (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 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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