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Wednesday, October 09, 2002




Economic Analysis
By Allen Grommet, Ph.D.
Sr. Economist
Tel: 201-836-4304
Released: Monday, October 7, 2002 at 8:30 am



In response to our Wildcard question, 40% of respondents said they have (in
the past 2 years) or intend to refinance their mortgage and 60% are not
refinancing. Of those refinancing one-fifth, or 20%, are using their
refinancing savings to make new purchases such as home improvements and
cars. Among the remaining 80%, 15% are paying off credit card debt, 20%
paying off other debts (cars, college, etc.), and 31% are increasing their
savings. Consumers' caution is noteworthy, as only 20% plan to spend the
proceeds from their refinancings. Many economists have been expecting
stronger consumer spending from refinancings, but this explains why
consumer spending remains restrained.

Interessanter Artikel & Link:
<ul> ~ http://www.cambridgeconsumerindex.com/survey.asp</ul>