World financial news

Retailers heading into the traditional start of holiday shopping are facing consumers who are only a bit less gloomy than they were a year ago as they worry about a weak job market.

The latest snapshot from the Conference Board showed shoppers’ confidence improved only slightly in November, from October, but it’s stuck far below what could be considered healthy and is about half of the historic average.

The private research group said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index edged up to 49.5, up from a revised reading of 48.7 in October. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected a reading of 47.7. That compares with a reading of 44 no checking account payday advance.7 in November 2008, a level that sank even lower before enjoying a three-month climb from March through May. But the road has been bumpier since June as rising unemployment has taken a toll on consumers.

A reading above 90 means the economy is on solid footing. Above 100 signals strong growth.

How consumers behave during the holidays and beyond will be key to how strongly the economy rebounds from the worst recession since the 1930s.

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