The Shift in Consumer Confidence You Need to Know About

The consumer confidence rate in the U.S. is at its highest point in five years, and we all know confident consumers spend money. So why is there such a lack of confidence coming from America's CEOs today? In this video, Motley Fool analyst Morgan Housel explores the discrepancy, and he tells us whether this is really the recovery we've all been hoping for that can net us some big investment returns, or whether the road back to economic prosperity is a bit more nuanced than that.

Companies with a broad reach around the world may not get the same shot in the arm from renewed localized American consumer enthusiasm that other entirely domestic companies do, so we need to understand those companies more completely. One such company with just that kind of reach is General Electric. For GE, the recent financial crisis struck a blow, but management took advantage of the market's dip to make strategic bets in energy.

If you're a GE investor, you need to understand how these bets could drive this company to become the world's infrastructure leader. At the same time, you need to be aware of the threats to GE's portfolio. To help, we're offering comprehensive coverage for investors in a premium report on General Electric, in which our industrials analyst breaks down GE's multiple businesses. You'll find reasons to buy or sell GE, and you'll receive continuing updates as major events unfold during the year. To get started, click here now.