Poll: NJ Consumers Saving More

President Barack Obama might be confident the economy will turn around in the short term, but New Jerseyans are saving more money just in case. A quarterly consumer survey conducted for Fairleigh Dickinson University's Silberman College of Business finds that nearly two-thirds of New Jerseyans have a friend or relative who have lost their job, up nine points from January. And a majority , 59 percent , say they are worse off than they were a year ago. However, 45 percent think they'll be better off a year from now. As a result, more Garden State consumers are increasing their savings, especially younger workers. Fifty-two percent of consumers aged 18 to 29 report they could live off their savings for six months, up from 34 percent who said that in April. AP