Consumer Confidence Waning Economists Say They Are Vexed by Flood of Mixed Signals and Unreliable Statistics

Amy Kaslow, writer of The Christian Science Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor

CHARLIE LEMMER, owner of Chazco Van Lines, heaved a sigh and leaned on the furniture his men had just moved. He started his Virginia-based moving business in 1980, and until this year, he enjoyed the boom years of the Washington metropolitan housing market.

But "since the beginning of this year," he says, "the slow times have been really slow, and we've had to spend more money and work harder to make the same revenue."

With higher costs and less business, Mr. Lemmer is considering layoffs. Parents of two, he and his wife used to frequent shopping malls; today, he says, they're very careful about what they spend. "People are afraid to spend money, and they're …

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Publication information: Article title: Consumer Confidence Waning Economists Say They Are Vexed by Flood of Mixed Signals and Unreliable Statistics. Contributors: Amy Kaslow, writer of The Christian Science Monitor - Author. Newspaper title: The Christian Science Monitor. Publication date: October 19, 1990. Page number: 7. © 2009 The Christian Science Publishing Society. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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