Consumer sentiment fell for the first time in five months to the lowest level since march.  The growing insecurity Americans feel about their future employment is prompting households to spend less and save more, delaying economic recovery efforts.  We expect consumer sentiment will continue decreasing in the upcoming months because of year-end unemployment rate projections over 10%.

Transportation

The steady increase in new orders in the past few months should boost the transportation industry’s revenue flow in the fourth quarter this year; however, rising fuel prices will test the margins of many freight firms.   Expect for deal flow in the second half of 2009 to be significantly more than the 18 deals completed in the first half of 2009. Click here to see our most recent Freight Trucking Star Report.