Study: Missourians mixed about personal finances

The second phase of a study commissioned by Arvest Bank found mixed results on how Missourians feel about their present and future finances.

Conducted by the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, the Arvest Consumer Sentiment Survey results released today report 54 percent of the 388 Missouri respondents felt their financial situation was the same as it was a year ago. That's higher than Arkansas, which was at 52 percent, but lower than Oklahoma's 57 percent and the regional average of 55 percent, according to a news release.

Of Missouri respondents, 16 percent felt they were better off financially than a year ago, while roughly 31 percent said they were worse off. Eighteen percent of Arkansas residents responded they were better off than a year ago, while 19 percent of Oklahomans felt better this year than the same time in 2013.

When asked whether they felt their financial situation would be better in the next year, 19 percent of Missourians responded favorably. Fifty-three percent of Missouri respondents said their finances would be the same in a year, and 27 percent said they would be worse off, according to the release.

Asked the same question, 28 percent of Arkansas respondents felt they'd be better off a year from now, while 34 percent of Oklahoma respondents said their finances would improve.

The Arvest Consumer Sentiment Study is slated to be conducted twice a year, with the next survey to be completed in late November, according to the release.