Orange County consumers reported optimism and confidence in the economy and in their overall quality of life, according to a study conducted by a California State University, Fullerton, research team late last year.
Despite the decline in the National Consumer Confidence Index, county consumers have positive attitudes about their overall living situation, according to Thomas Mayes, professor of management at the university’s College of Business and Economics. Mayes coordinated the survey of 392 OC residents.
He said the survey responses revealed little change in attitude since the last survey he conducted, in June.
“Orange County consumers continue to be very positive,” said Mayes.
In the survey, 86% of respondents rated business conditions as good or excellent, with 92% predicting they would improve or remain the same over the next six months. Eighty-three percent of those surveyed rated the current job market as good to excellent, and 89% expected the market to improve or remain the same over the next six months.
Nearly all those interviewed, 95%, rated the county’s quality of life as good to excellent, and 72% said that OC would remain a good, or become a better place to live in the future.
Of those surveyed, 84% said gas prices had little or no effect on their willingness to buy a home, car or major household items. Sixty-one percent said interest rates had no effect on their willingness to buy a major household item or vehicle. Just 22% indicated that interest rates had a major effect on their willingness to buy a home.
The average age of survey respondents was 45, with 75% of all survey participants reporting at least some college education.
