By Florida Atlantic University Business and Economic Polling Initiative, Special for USDR
Hispanics in the United States are increasingly optimistic about the nation’s economy and their own personal financial situation, according to a new national survey by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI).
The Hispanic Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) gained six points from 100.8 in July to 106.2 in August, the highest month on record in the two years FAU has been conducting the survey. The gain was fueled by an increase in three of the five components of the index, including respondents’ perception about their personal financial situation a year from now, their reading on U.S. economic conditions in the next five years, and their opinion as to whether now is a good time to buy big-ticket items.
Overall, 82 percent of Hispanics think that a year from now they will be better off financially, which is a 5 percent increase from July. The percentage of Hispanics who expect good times economically over the next five years increased from 53 percent to 68 percent.
Overall, 74 percent of Hispanics said this is a good time to buy big-ticket items such as furniture, refrigerators or televisions, which is a 5 percent increase from July. Consumers 35 to 54 years of age and those with incomes of $75,000 were most favorable to buying big-ticket items.
This month’s poll also surveyed Hispanics’ use of social media for political news. Overall, 77 percent of Hispanics use social media to read political news stories, including 87 percent of those 18 to 34 years old, and 86 percent of those earning $75,000 or more a year.
The survey also highlighted which groups tend to go toward selective exposure when it comes to the political news they read. Males are more likely (44 percent) than females (33 percent) to seek out opinions that are in line with their own views, while those age 55 and above are more likely to seek out contrary opinions than younger people.
While television is still the top source for political news for Hispanics overall, younger Hispanics 18 to 34 years of age get most of their political news from the Internet (60 percent, compared to 34 percent for television).
SOURCE Florida Atlantic University Business and Economic Polling Initiative
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