These are odd times: Local bosses seem bullish. Consumers statewide are getting antsy.

One poll shows Inland Empire executives are generally increasingly upbeat about the economic future.

A stronger local economy was foreseen by 41.7 percent of Inland Empire purchasing managers, according to a July poll by Cal State San Bernardino’s Institute of Applied Research and Policy Analysis. That optimism is up from 36 percent the previous month and 35.7 percent a year earlier. In the past five years, this poll found executives predicting economic improvement 29.5 percent of the time.

Conversely, 8.3 percent of executives polled see a weakening business climate vs. 8 percent the previous month and 3.6 percent a year earlier. Pessimistic executives averaged 18.1 percent of managers polled over five years.

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34 arrested in what the EDD calls a web of unemployment fraud The institute’s Purchasing Managers Index, created by the poll results, was 61.1 last month vs. 58.8 the previous month and 58.3 a year earlier. When the index is above 50, it’s considered good economic times, and this index has been above that key level for 19 consecutive months.

Consumers don’t see it exactly the same way. California shoppers, like many across the nation, seem a tad antsy about the future.

The Conference Board reports that its consumer confidence index for California was at 119.9 for July, down from 121.3 a month earlier but up from 108.2 a year ago.

The index has two key components. First, there’s California consumers’ view of current conditions. Polling shows optimism is down from a month ago but up from a year ago. Second is the shoppers’ view of the economic future. That rose from a month ago but is down from a year ago.

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34 arrested in what the EDD calls a web of unemployment fraud In the months ahead, Californians face everything from a new governor to a wobbly housing market to congressional political uncertainty to possible economic fallout from potential trade wars.

It’s a similar scene in other states. Of the seven other big state tracked by the Conference Board, overall confidence rose in one for the month and five for the year. Current conditions’ assessments rose in five states for the month and all seven in the year. But expectations were up in just one state for the month and up in only three for the year.

Nationally, the consumer confidence index was 127.4 for July, up from 127.1 a month earlier and up from 120 a year ago.

U.S. shoppers’ view of current conditions were up from both a month ago and a year ago. But consumer expectations were down in the month and year.

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