Californians were more optimistic about finances in July, only the second monthly improvement since Donald Trump won the presidency.

The Conference Board’s measurement of California’s consumer confidence rose 2% from June, according to my trusty spreadsheets’ review of this index derived from consumer polling. The index has dropped in seven of the nine months since October, just before Election Day.

The confidence yardstick is off 25% from October, when it was at a 14-month high. It’s also 8% below the index’s average dating to 2007.

The Golden State anxiety is not unexpected considering Trump’s “America First” thinking runs counter to California’s globally oriented economy. Heightened tension surrounding immigration enforcement and global trade frictions are no confidence boosters.

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