CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - February 24, 2010) - Spectrem Group (
www.spectrem.com) announced
today that its Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index (SAICI(SM)) rose 3
points in February to -10, returning to neutral territory.
The increase in the affluent index, which measures the investment outlook
of households with $500,000 or more in investable assets, follows a 2-point
advance in January 2010. It brings the index to neutral from mildly
bearish for only the second time since February 2008. The index was last
neutral in November 2009.
Meanwhile, the Spectrem Millionaire Investor Confidence Index (SMICI(SM))
fell 1 point in February to -10, its seventh-straight neutral reading.
"Affluent Americans became slightly more confident about investing in
February as millionaires saw their confidence slip. This left both groups
with identical confidence readings -- an unusual situation since
millionaires have historically been more optimistic than the affluent --
suggesting deep-seated unease among millionaires about both the economy and
issues surrounding it," 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 February cited: the political
environment (26%); unemployment (14%); health care reform (12%); the
economy (10%); stock market conditions (4%); and housing and real estate
(2%). Those choosing the political environment rose from 7% in November
2009, the last time this question was asked, and those choosing
unemployment rose from 11%.
Millionaires expressed slightly less concern than the affluent about both
the political environment (25%) and unemployment (13%).
Historical Performance
September October November December January February
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ==========
Spectrem
Affluent
Investor
Confidence
Index(SM) -13 -15 -10 -15 -13 -10
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ==========
Spectrem
Millionaire
Investor
Confidence
Index(SM) -5 -7 -4 -10 -9 -10
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ==========
Methodology
The Spectrem Affluent Investor Confidence Index (SAICI(SM)) 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
Confidence Index (SMICI(SM)) is based on a subset of the overall survey
group.
Contact Information: Contact:
George Walper
(312) 454-3320
gwalper@spectrem.com