Quikrete Industry Dashboard - (Week 48, 2024)

The Week 48 edition of the Quikrete Industry Dashboard shows U.S. average gas prices continue trickling downward ($3.07) from last month ($3.13). Pump prices have receded considerably compared with last year's nationwide average of $3.25 in late-November 2023, per AAA's data.

This week's Dashboard also reveals that consumers continue to signal rosier feelings about the economy. For the third straight month, The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose. November's Confidence figures clocked in at 111.7, up 2.1 points from 109.6 in October. 

As The Conference Board's Chief Economist Dana M. Peterson explained:

“Consumer confidence continued to improve in November and reached the top of the range that has prevailed over the past two years. November’s increase was mainly driven by more positive consumer assessments of the present situation, particularly regarding the labor market. Compared to October, consumers were also substantially more optimistic about future job availability, which reached its highest level in almost three years. Meanwhile, consumers’ expectations about future business conditions were unchanged and they were slightly less positive about future income.”