consumer sentiment

Two new surveys suggest that financial optimism is on the rise. But even with the improving numbers, among average Americans, those who are upbeat about their personal finances are outnumbered by the pessimists, and we're still wary of buying stocks.

The news from the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis was mixed Wednesday. Consumer spending rose in October, but just barely. Incomes were up a bit, but savings did too. And employment figures were just conflicted.

Too scared to spend amid today's economic uncertainty, homeowners are just saying no to remodeling. The number of homeowners who say the economy has them shying away from renovations jumped from 69% in the spring to 80% now, and remodeling contractors report their business is down 3.81% over the last 12 months.

The American consumer's financial health is showing signs of improvement, but the weak job market continues to derail the nation's economic recovery -- particularly for people in the lower income brackets, according to September's Consumer Reports Index, released on Tuesday.

The S&P 500 was up by only 4% in the first half of 2011, and it fell about 1% in the second quarter. Will it end there? A sell-off may be about to begin that would take the index lower for the full year. Here are half a dozen reasons why one of history's most impressive stock market runs may have ended.

Bad economic news across the board is weighing on Americans' mood this month. The consumer sentiment index fell to a 5-month low in March, thanks to increases in the U.S. trade deficit, higher jobless claims, and a more than 40-cent jump in the price of a gallon of gas.

Last week, oil's ascent trumped a raft of healthy U.S. economic reports. With a relatively light slate of economic data scheduled this week, oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East could play an even larger role in the trading sessions ahead. [Video]

The markets may have had a rough weak as U.S. GDP growth was revised down and Middle East unrest caused oil prices to rise, but the consumer sentiment index rose to its highest level since January 2008. Sentiment has risen for about six months -- an encouraging sign -- but oil prices could sour the mood.

The embattled Egyptian president's resignation lifted a cloud worldwide, and investors responded. More encouraging economic news also helped equities on Friday as the consumer sentiment index rose to a slightly better-than-expected reading for February. [Video]

Another good week for the U.S. economy: Initial jobless claims fell below the key 400,000 level, and the consumer sentiment index rose to its highest point in eight months, indicating that Americans are increasingly confident that better days are ahead.