Two other indexes, one for an assessment of the present situation and one for expectations about the future, are also constructed. In addition, indexes for the present and future economic situations are calculated for each of the nine Census divisions. The Conference Board also tracks consumer buying plans for the next six months. Among the items tracked are automobiles, homes, vacations, and major appliances. Conversely, if inflation begins to accelerate, spending plans may increase for the short-term as consumers buy now to avoid having to pay higher prices later.
Consumer confidence correlates closely with joblessness, inflation, and real incomes.
The growth of help wanted advertising as measured by the Conference Board has also been a strong contributor to consumer confidence. Rising stock market prices can also boost consumer confidence. Other related concepts are those of Personal Consumption Expenditures and Retail Sales that are published monthly rather than quarterly. This is the only revision, although seasonal factors are updated periodically. Financial markets interpret rising consumer confidence as a precursor to higher consumer spending.