“In Q3 the financial situation facing US households deteriorated for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to research from the Alliance Trust Research Centre. Our US Financial Reality Index fell from 81.7 to 69.4, taking it further below the critical level of 100 and to the lowest level in three years. All three sub-indices fell over the quarter, the first time since Q2 2008 that such widespread deterioration has been seen. Our results highlight the risk that growth in consumer spending will slow over the coming quarters. Higher prices of basic goods continue to weigh on household budgets and muted wage growth means real earnings are negative. In Q2, equity market gains helped to offset these effects to some degree, but this reversed in Q3 adding to the pressure on household budgets.”
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