Survey: Missourians slightly more optimistic about economy

Missourians’ opinion about the economy is improving, albeit slowly, according to Arvest Bank’s latest Consumer Sentiment Survey.

Conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas Sam W. Walton College of Business, the study analyzes the results of over 1,200 random phone surveys performed by the University of Oklahoma’s public opinion learning laboratory during. The study examines a regional outlook, as well as that of residents in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and is conducted twice a year.

Missouri’s consumer sentiment index moved up to 85.8 in September from 85.2 in the last survey performed in March, according to a news release.

With the latest study, Missouri’s index has moved the closest to the national average since Arvest began the survey in early 2014. The national index is now 87.2. Comparatively, Missouri’s index was 68.6 early last year, compared to the national index of 82.5.

“The first two years of data for the Arvest Consumer Sentiment Survey show that consumers in Missouri continue to gain confidence in the performance of the economy,” said Missouri State University Bureau of Economic Research Director David Mitchell, who was retained by Arvest to analyze the survey results, in the release. “However, the growth of these gains has begun to slow as news of declining stock markets and slowing global growth have begun to sink in.”

Since the survey started, Missouri has gained 17.2 points, compared to 10.4 in Arkansas and 8.6 in Oklahoma.

The regional index for the three-state area dropped to 82.6 from 83.2 in March. The national index declined to 87.2 from 93 during that time, according to the release.

The survey asks respondents to evaluate their current and future finances, business conditions, major household purchase plans, consumer debt, savings and demographics.