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For Immediate Release November 8, 2006
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

Arlington, Texas— The Decision Analyst U.S. Economic Index jumped three points in October to 114 (up from 111 in September). This is a large increase and marks the highest the Index has been in two years. The rise in the Economic Index indicates that the pace of economic growth will quicken in coming months, primarily the result of lower gasoline prices and lower unemployment rates.

""The increase in the Economic Index continues a three-month trend. Falling gasoline prices are most likely the main cause of the Index's rise. Interest rates have also eased somewhat, and that might be positively affecting the Index. This pattern of consecutive increases in the Index predicts accelerating growth in the U.S. economy as we approach the Christmas selling season, despite the downward pressure from weakness in the housing sector," said Jerry W. Thomas, President and CEO of Decision Analyst, the marketing research and marketing consulting firm that conducts the survey and derives the Economic Index.

Among the components that make up the Economic Index, the indicators that appeared to be driving the Economic Index's rise were confidence in "stocks and mutual funds" (up 11 points), optimism about "prices paid for goods and services" (up 7 points), and "corporate hiring" (up 6 points).

Methodology

The Decision Analyst Economic Index is based on a monthly Internet survey of several thousand households balanced by gender, age, and geography. The survey is typically conducted between the 20th and 27th of each month. The Index is calculated from nine different economic measurements, using a sophisticated econometric model. The result is a snapshot of current U.S. economic activity, as seen through the eyes of representative consumers. Decision Analyst also conducts concurrent economic surveys in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and Venezuela. Whenever the Decision Analyst Economic Index is greater than 110, it tends to signal an expanding economy. An Index value of 100 to 110 suggests a slow-growth economy, and below 100 generally indicates economic contraction. These guidelines vary by country, however.

About Decision Analyst

Decision Analyst (www.decisionanalyst.com) is a leading marketing research and marketing consulting firm specializing in advertising testing, strategy research, new product development, and advanced modeling for marketing decision optimization. The firm delivers competitive advantage to clients throughout the world in the consumer packaged goods, telecommunications, retail, high technology, medical and pharmaceutical, utilities, and e-commerce industries. Decision Analyst operates American Consumer Opinion® online, one of the world’s largest Internet consumer opinion panels, with more than six million participants.

For additional information contact:
Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 1.800.ANALYSIS (262.5974)
Address: 604 Avenue H East
Arlington, TX 76011

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