The end is near

A new Consumer Behavior Report from PriceGrabber.com suggests that most consumers believe the recession will end before January 2012.

PriceGrabber, a division of Experian, conducted online surveys of more than 6,200 consumers in February and March to learn that 52% of consumers are optimistic the recession is nearing an end.

“The results of our recent consumer spending survey demonstrate a lift in consumer sentiment," Laura Conrad, president of PriceGrabber.com, noted in a statement. "While many respondents are still currently spending less than they were at the start of the recession, the data on planning for big-ticket purchases and increased consumer spending support consumer expectations of a 2010 economic turnaround."

SURVEY FINDINGS
• The employment groups most optimistic about the end of the recession are full-time employees and students.

• 57% of urban residents believe the recession will end by January 2012.

• 44% of rural residents believe the recession will end by January 2012.

• When comparing spending habits in the beginning of the recession with current spending habits, 65% of consumers are spending less now than at the start of the recession in December 2007, while 6% indicated they are spending more.

• Moving forward in 2010, plans to spend are moving in a positive direction; fewer consumers (47%) are planning to spend less now compared with the start of the recession in December 2007, while twice as many consumers (12%) plan to spend more.

• 56 of those surveyed already have purchased a big-ticket item in 2010.

• In early 2010, 35% of consumers purchased a big-ticket electronic product, and 24% said they have plans to purchase one in the next six months.

• 19% of consumers already have made a big-ticket home improvement purchase, and 16 percent are planning to make one in the next six months.