U.S. Economic Confidence Is Waning for the Third Week in a Row

Christopher Robbins/Thinkstock(PRINCETON, N.J.) –  The “Economic Confidence Index" fell to -24 for the week ending June 17, the third straight week of decline, according to the Gallup Polls.

"With the U.S. economy fragile and concerns over European debt continuing to mount, economic confidence will be an important number to watch in the coming weeks and months leading up to the presidential election," Gallup suggests.

"The continued negative confidence among independents is particularly relevant to President Obama's re-election hopes. Given that independents are the swing U.S. political group, confidence among them may need to move closer to positive territory to boost their willingness to back Obama in the election."

Recently, “there were 3.4 million job openings on the last business day of April, down from 3.7 million in March,” reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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