The CRIBA Blog :: Live Local, Buy Local

The Siena Research Institute released their latest poll results yesterday citing a drop in consumer confidence.  Consumer confidence levels dropped 1.9 percent in October, but if overall results from the last year are examined more closely there could be very positive signs heading into the Christmas shopping season.

Consumer confidence levels in October of 2009 are actually nearly 30% higher than they were in October 2008.  One would hope this is good news for local merchants in the Capital Region.  Last year was certainly a very difficult Christmas season for all retailers, especially in Upstate New York.  But, we cannot ignore the fact that consumer confidence was so very low last year that things should be looking up for 2009 Christmas shopping based on the current levels in the SRI poll.