The new tax law is helping households weather the blow from the recent volatility in the stock market, according to data released Thursday by a financial trade group.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants said its index of personal financial satisfaction reached another record high during the first quarter despite the dramatic swings in equity prices. Instead, the positive mood was driven by a significant drop in households’ tax burdens.
“You see the benefits coming through on the new tax bill, which is fully landed,” said Dave Stolz, a member of AICPA. “There’s a decrease in the pain relative to the taxes.”
The index measures financial satisfaction by combining eight sets of data. In addition to taxes and stock valuations, it considers such data as inflation, underemployment, job openings and home equity. Index readings above zero are considered positive, a milestone hit in 2014 as the economy recovered from the Great Recession.
The index has been steadily climbing ever since and hit a high of 26.1 during the first quarter of 2018.
“It’s hard to make changes when the economy is really poor,” Stolz said. “If the economy is going well and you’re not happy with your situation, it’s perfect time to sit down” and reassess your situation.
Tax cuts are not the only item bolstering household finances. Job openings have also increased sharply, while company executives say they are expecting higher sales and more investment. Meanwhile, loan delinquencies fell significantly.
The group’s findings echo results from a Harris poll it commissioned to survey consumers’ moods. That poll found 68 percent of Americans are satisfied with their personal finances, up 4 points from last year. Fewer Americans say they are unhappy, 28 percent this year compared with 35 percent last year.
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