When asked how they feel about the economy, investors say they’re pessimistic, according to a UBS/Gallup index of investor optimism.
The UBS/Gallup index rose 6 points to 50 this month, but that’s still the second lowest level this year and 40 points below its level in December of 2006.
The pollsters said most of December’s modest optimism was in the “economic dimension index,” which measures investors’ feelings about the overall direction of the economy. However, investors’ feelings about the current economy are less optimistic. UBS/Gallup said 78 percent of investors polled feel the U.S. economy is in a slowdown or recession.
Nearly 80 percent of investors also said energy prices and the challenging housing market are hurting the economy.
