BEPI Poll: Hispanics Outlook on Economy Jumps Heading into 2025
Hispanics felt more optimistic about their financial situations and the economic outlook in the United States heading into the new year, according to a new poll from the Business & Economic Polling Initiative (BEPI) at Florida Atlantic University.
Hispanics felt more optimistic about their financial situations and the economic outlook in the United States heading into the new year, according to a new poll from the Business & Economic Polling Initiative (BEPI) at Florida Atlantic University.
The fourth quarter Hispanic Consumer Sentiment Index (HCSI) increased to 89.3 in the last quarter of 2024, up from the third quarter 2024 score of 69.3. All questions used to generate the HCSI increased compared to the prior quarter; the index reached the same level as the first quarter of 2024.
“Hispanics were very optimistic about their personal finances and the economy this past quarter, supported by steady employment levels and strong business growth,” said Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., director of BEPI in FAU’s College of Business.
More Hispanics (55%) felt they were better off during the fourth quarter of 2024 than the prior year, up from 38% in the third quarter of 2024.
For their future financial situations, 70% of Hispanics felt they would be better off financially in the next year, up from 61% the prior quarter.
Both the short-run and long-run economic outlook improved among Hispanics in the fourth quarter of 2024. A majority (61%) felt the country would experience good business conditions in the next year, up from 45%. Meanwhile, 58% said that the country would have a good economic outlook in the next five years, an increase from 39% in the third quarter of 2024.
In other news, 52% of Hispanics believe it is a good time to purchase a big-ticket item, compared to 46% in the third quarter.
“With significant representation in industries like construction and service sectors, coupled with increasing entrepreneurship, many Hispanic-Latino business owners mirror the optimism of the consumers in our index and anticipate revenue growth and expansion in 2025,” Escaleras said. "Other reports show that Latin business owners are increasingly confident in the year ahead with plans to expand their businesses and see more revenue."
The survey was conducted between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, polling a sample of Hispanic adults. The margin of error is +/-4.2 percentage points. It was administered using both landlines via IVR data collection and online data collection using Rep data. Responses for the entire sample were weighted to reflect the national distribution of the Hispanic population by education, gender, age and income according to latest American Community Survey data. The results and full cross-tabulations are here.
-FAU-
Latest Research
- FAU Engineering Lands U.S. DOD Grant for Testing Connected AI AutonomyThe Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence will develop a platform for testing connected AI autonomy, placing FAU as a national leader in next-gen networked AI autonomous systems research.
- FAU Student Places Second at 3MT® CompetitionFlorida Atlantic University's Omair Faqah, a Ph.D. candidate in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, recently took second place in the statewide Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition.
- Toxic Blooms in Motion: Study Maps Algae Patterns in Lake OkeechobeeFAU Harbor Branch researchers used an advanced physical-biogeochemical model to track daily movements of harmful algal blooms in Florida's largest freshwater lake, vital to the region's hydrological balance.
- Soaring Insurance Costs Top Concern for Floridians, FAU Survey FindsA new FAU survey finds more than two-thirds of Floridians are worried about stronger, more frequent hurricanes, and more than half are concerned about affording and keeping homeowners insurance.
- FAU Seeks Infants for Study on How Humans Learn to Shape Their WorldTo further their groundbreaking research on how babies discover their ability to influence the world, FAU researchers are seeking infants aged 2 to 4 months to participate in a study along with their parents.
- FAU Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber ResearchFAU has been recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research by the National Security Agency and its partners in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.