FYI: Tuesday’s Chicago PMI report was very weak relative to expectations, but investors received some consolation from a Consumer Confidence report that handily surpassed consensus forecasts. While economists were expecting March’s read on confidence to come in at a level of 96.6, the actual reading came in at 101.3, which was up 2.5 points from February. The March report was only the second triple-digit reading of the recovery, and just the fifth above average reading since 2007.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.bespokepremium.com/think-big-blog/consumer-confidence-depends-on-your-income/
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Business | Wed Apr 1, 2015 10:09am EDT
Automakers profit from luxury models, North America, China -McKinsey
NEW YORK | BY JOSEPH WHITE AND BERNIE WOODALL
The world's biggest automakers increasingly are making money by producing luxury models and reaping profits in China and North America, management consulting firm McKinsey & Co said in a report issued on Wednesday
The lure of the profitable U.S. pickup truck is strong, even for brands that traditionally have not played in that segment of the business.
“Pickups driving around Greenwich, Connecticut, they’re not going to job sites,” said Steve Cannon, head of Daimler AG’s (DAIGn.DE) Mercedes-Benz brand in the United States. “There is a market for it; we’re evaluating it.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/01/us-autos-profit-idUSKBN0MS4JZ20150401