CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - June 3, 2009) - Spectrem Group (
www.spectrem.com) announced
today that its Spectrem Millionaire Investor Index (SMII)® rose 17 points
in May to -2, recording its largest advance ever.
This gain, the third-consecutive improvement for the millionaire index,
returns it to neutral territory and brings the index to its highest level
since December 2007, when it stood at 8.
Meanwhile, the Spectrem Affluent Investor Index (SAII)®, which measures
the investment outlook of households with $500,000 or more in investable
assets, rose 9 points in May to -12, a mildly bearish reading. This brings
the index to its highest level since February 2008, when it stood at -10.
"Millionaires' investment optimism surged in May, recording the largest
monthly increase since we began tracking it in February 2004. The broader
affluent population saw optimism improve as well. Though news on the
economy remains far from rosy, it appears that the nation's wealthiest
investors are adjusting to the new environment and may feel the worst is
behind us," said George H. Walper, Jr., President of Spectrem Group.
In response to an open-ended question about the news story most affecting
their economic outlook, affluent investors in May cited: the economy (25%);
the political environment (25%); stock market conditions (6%); housing and
real estate (3%); and increasing oil and gas prices (1%). Those choosing
the economy fell from 60% in February 2009, the last time this question was
asked, while those citing the political environment increased from 4%.
Millionaires expressed more concern about the political environment (27%)
than the affluent, but were slightly less worried about the economy (24%).
Historical Performance
December January February March April May
Spectrem Affluent
Investor Index® -31 -28 -38 -30 -21 -12
Spectrem Millionaire
Investor Index® -23 -21 -34 -26 -19 -2
Methodology
The Spectrem Affluent Investor Index® is based on 250 monthly interviews
with the financial decision-makers in households with $500,000 or more in
investable assets. The data have a margin of error of plus or minus 6.2
percentage points. The Spectrem Millionaire Investor Index® is based on
a subset of the overall survey group.
Contact Information: Contact:
Sharon Bially
(774) 270-1293
sharon@farrellkramer.com