CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AND COLLEGE GRADUATE JOBS LOOK GOOD IN 2016

The Consumer Confidence Index was quite good in August 2016.  Still a significant number said the jobs were hard to get (As always, you are encouraged to read the full articles):
The Consumer Confidence Index hit 101.1 in August, The Conference Board said. Economists expected consumer confidence to hit 97 in August, according to a Thomson Reuters consensus estimate.*
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While a growing share of respondents expect their incomes to improve, the outlook on jobs was mixed. More respondents said jobs were plentiful, but those claiming jobs are "hard to get" also rose. Similarly, while the the proportion expecting more jobs in the months ahead rose to 14.2 percent, up from from 13.5 percent, 17.5 percent of respondents still anticipate fewer jobs going forward.*

On the other hand for college graduates:
National starting salaries for professional occupations are expected to increase 3.6 percent, on average, next year, according to a 2017 salary report from staffing firm Robert Half.**
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"With skilled professionals in high demand and short supply, more hiring managers are willing to negotiate compensation with potential hires," Paul McDonald, Robert Half's senior executive director, said in a statement. "Top candidates are receiving multiple offers and will lose interest when faced with a lengthy hiring process."**

(Click on figure to enlaarge)

For newly minted college graduates, it's the best job market in years. Overall, employers are estimated to hire about 5 percent more graduates from the class of 2016 than last year, according to a separate report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.*

* http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/30/consumer-confidence-for-august-2016-reported-by-the-conference-board.html
** http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/30/base-salaries-get-a-boost-.html