The monthly Index of Consumer Sentiment has clues about holiday sales numbers.

The consumer confidence and consumer sentiment indices come out this week. Analysts will be looking to see what they tell us about the U.S. economic recovery.

Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan put together a consumer sentiment survey, which serves as an important economic indicator for the U.S.

Richard Curtin of the Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index discusses how the survey gauges consumer hopes and expectations, and what it means in elections.

Host Jeremy Hobson ventured out into Ann Arbor, Mich. to see how people are feeling about this year's election, and how the economy will play a role in it.

Macroeconomic signs point to a brighter future, but average Americans are still struggling with the basics.