Effective this month, The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® will reflect survey data collected by The Nielsen Company.

The Consumer Confidence Survey® will utilize a probability-design random sample, post-stratification weights (for gender, income, geography, and age), and the U.S. Census X-12 seasonal adjustment. The survey questions and collection method remain unchanged.

Parallel testing over five months has produced consistent results in both the levels and changes of the Consumer Confidence Index. To smooth the transition to the new survey data, The Conference Board has designated November 2010 as the effective changeover month, and today publishes new data tables covering figures for November 2010, December 2010, and January 2011 (preliminary). No other data revision is necessary.

Two other series also based on the Consumer Confidence Survey, which measure respondents’ intentions regarding vacations and major purchases, both showed significant level shifts which will be treated as breaks, without any historical revision. Neither of these series is included in or has any impact on the Consumer Confidence Index.

Technical details will be published at the time of the next regularly scheduled release of the Consumer Confidence Index on Feb. 22, 2011.