Business News
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index decreased in July, after increasing in June.
The Index now stands at 92.6 (1985=100), down from 98.3 in June.
The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – improved from 86.7 to 94.2.
However, the Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions – decreased from 106.1 in June to 91.5 this month.
The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was July 17.
“Consumer Confidence declined in July following a large gain in June,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “The Present Situation Index improved, but the Expectations Index retreated. Large declines were experienced in Michigan, Florida, Texas and California, no doubt a result of the resurgence of COVID-19. Looking ahead, consumers have grown less optimistic about the short-term outlook for the economy and labor market and remain subdued about their financial prospects. Such uncertainty about the short-term future does not bode well for the recovery, nor for consumer spending.”
Consumers’ assessment of present-day conditions improved in July. The percentage of consumers claiming business conditions are “good” was relatively unchanged at 17.3 percent, while those claiming business conditions are “bad” decreased from 42.5 percent to 39.1 percent. Consumers’ appraisal of the job market was more favorable. The percentage of consumers saying jobs are “plentiful” increased from 20.5 percent to 21.3 percent, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” decreased from 23.3 percent to 20.0 percent.
Consumers, however, were less optimistic about the short-term outlook. The percentage of consumers expecting business conditions will improve over the next six months declined from 42.4 percent to 31.6 percent, while those expecting business conditions will worsen increased from 15.2 percent to 19.3 percent.
Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was also less favorable. The proportion expecting more jobs in the months ahead declined from 38.4 percent to 30.6 percent, while those anticipating fewer jobs in the months ahead increased from 14.4 percent to 20.3 percent.
Regarding their short-term income prospects, the percentage of consumers expecting an increase was relatively unchanged at 15.1 percent, while the proportion expecting a decrease rose from 14.1 percent to 15.0 percent.
The Index now stands at 92.6 (1985=100), down from 98.3 in June.
The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – improved from 86.7 to 94.2.
However, the Expectations Index – based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions – decreased from 106.1 in June to 91.5 this month.
The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was July 17.
“Consumer Confidence declined in July following a large gain in June,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “The Present Situation Index improved, but the Expectations Index retreated. Large declines were experienced in Michigan, Florida, Texas and California, no doubt a result of the resurgence of COVID-19. Looking ahead, consumers have grown less optimistic about the short-term outlook for the economy and labor market and remain subdued about their financial prospects. Such uncertainty about the short-term future does not bode well for the recovery, nor for consumer spending.”
Consumers’ assessment of present-day conditions improved in July. The percentage of consumers claiming business conditions are “good” was relatively unchanged at 17.3 percent, while those claiming business conditions are “bad” decreased from 42.5 percent to 39.1 percent. Consumers’ appraisal of the job market was more favorable. The percentage of consumers saying jobs are “plentiful” increased from 20.5 percent to 21.3 percent, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” decreased from 23.3 percent to 20.0 percent.
Consumers, however, were less optimistic about the short-term outlook. The percentage of consumers expecting business conditions will improve over the next six months declined from 42.4 percent to 31.6 percent, while those expecting business conditions will worsen increased from 15.2 percent to 19.3 percent.
Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was also less favorable. The proportion expecting more jobs in the months ahead declined from 38.4 percent to 30.6 percent, while those anticipating fewer jobs in the months ahead increased from 14.4 percent to 20.3 percent.
Regarding their short-term income prospects, the percentage of consumers expecting an increase was relatively unchanged at 15.1 percent, while the proportion expecting a decrease rose from 14.1 percent to 15.0 percent.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture and California Air Resources Board are announcing a series of stakeholder workshops on the development of a framework for public-private partnerships to invest in scaling up healthy soils practices.
In addition to CDFA and CARB, staff from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will also participate in the workshop.
CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program provides financial incentives to Californian growers and ranchers to implement conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases, and improve soil health.
The Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel, which advises the Healthy Soils Program, has received several proposals to expand this program with the support of partners in the private sector.
“There is tremendous interest in supporting farmers who are implementing practices to build soil organic matter to sequester carbon and improve drought and climate resiliency,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This is a perfect time to explore how we develop a framework to coordinate private sector efforts that align with the CDFA and NRCS cost-share programs to greatly expand the number of acres participating in incentive programs.”
The framework would act as a roadmap for organizations that have already expressed interest in partnering with the state to invest in healthy agricultural soils as well as organizations that may be interested in doing so in the future.
“The Healthy Soils program serves both the interests of California’s world-leading agriculture industry and the state’s efforts to limit the worst impacts of the climate change we are already experiencing,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “We encourage potential private partners to get involved.”
The development of this framework will take place over the course of three workshops. The first workshop will include the purpose and goals of this effort and presentations from CDFA, USDA NRCS, and CARB about existing healthy soils grant programs and greenhouse gas emissions quantification methodology. The second and third workshops will focus on framework development within the context of these existing programs.
“We are excited to be working with CDFA and CARB in this effort to expand and coordinate healthy soils practices in California,” added NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. “Many of our Farm Bill resources also target soil health, water quality and quantity, as well as air quality. Working with public and private partners to coordinate activities, avoid duplication, and take advantage of each partner’s unique capabilities makes dollars go further and conservation efforts more effective.”
The workshops will be held via webinar and the agenda can be found on the Healthy Soils Initiative website. Participants must register in advance for workshops on the following dates:
July 29, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PT
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8780500156449191436
Aug.17, 8 a.m. – noon PT
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3125530435378672140
Sept. 1, 8 a.m. – noon PT
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1975611697027301388
There will be a written comment period on the development of the framework. Questions and comments should be submitted toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5 p.m. PT, Aug. 21.
Questions and corresponding answers will be posted on the CDFA webpage shortly thereafter.
In addition to CDFA and CARB, staff from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will also participate in the workshop.
CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program provides financial incentives to Californian growers and ranchers to implement conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases, and improve soil health.
The Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel, which advises the Healthy Soils Program, has received several proposals to expand this program with the support of partners in the private sector.
“There is tremendous interest in supporting farmers who are implementing practices to build soil organic matter to sequester carbon and improve drought and climate resiliency,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This is a perfect time to explore how we develop a framework to coordinate private sector efforts that align with the CDFA and NRCS cost-share programs to greatly expand the number of acres participating in incentive programs.”
The framework would act as a roadmap for organizations that have already expressed interest in partnering with the state to invest in healthy agricultural soils as well as organizations that may be interested in doing so in the future.
“The Healthy Soils program serves both the interests of California’s world-leading agriculture industry and the state’s efforts to limit the worst impacts of the climate change we are already experiencing,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “We encourage potential private partners to get involved.”
The development of this framework will take place over the course of three workshops. The first workshop will include the purpose and goals of this effort and presentations from CDFA, USDA NRCS, and CARB about existing healthy soils grant programs and greenhouse gas emissions quantification methodology. The second and third workshops will focus on framework development within the context of these existing programs.
“We are excited to be working with CDFA and CARB in this effort to expand and coordinate healthy soils practices in California,” added NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. “Many of our Farm Bill resources also target soil health, water quality and quantity, as well as air quality. Working with public and private partners to coordinate activities, avoid duplication, and take advantage of each partner’s unique capabilities makes dollars go further and conservation efforts more effective.”
The workshops will be held via webinar and the agenda can be found on the Healthy Soils Initiative website. Participants must register in advance for workshops on the following dates:
July 29, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PT
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8780500156449191436
Aug.17, 8 a.m. – noon PT
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3125530435378672140
Sept. 1, 8 a.m. – noon PT
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1975611697027301388
There will be a written comment period on the development of the framework. Questions and comments should be submitted to
Questions and corresponding answers will be posted on the CDFA webpage shortly thereafter.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
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