It’s the last Tuesday of the month, which means it’s the day we hear about how consumers are feeling about the economy from the Conference Board.

Today the Consumer Confidence Index says that consumers are downright gloomy.

But come Friday, you may hear something different about how consumers are feeling from the University of Michigan, which releases its Consumer Sentiment Index.

You may be asking yourselves what’s the difference between these two monthly metrics?

Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains the difference in today’s Money Matters segment.

“Both measure consumers’ ability or willingness to buy stuff,” says Hirsch. “So say you’re thinking about buying a refrigerator. So the consumer confidence questions — the questions that they ask when they’re polling people — essentially ask you are you going to be happy buying a refrigerator in six months time. The consumer sentiment people, they’re asking you how you feel about buying a refrigerator right now. “

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