These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis, fell four points on Sunday wiping out a modest bounce from the previous three days. At 78.5, the Consumer Index is down six points since the disappointing jobs report was issued last week and confidence is now at its lowest level in two months.
The Rasmussen Investor Index, which measures the economic confidence of investors on a daily basis, fell seven points to 85.7 and is also at the lowest level in more than two months.
Just 32% of Adults now believe their own personal finances are in good or excellent shape while 25% rate their personal finances as poor. Those figures are essentially unchanged from the beginning of the year. The number who rate their own finances as good or excellent is down eleven points from the night in September 2008 when Lehman Brothers collapsed to begin the financial industry meltdown.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of all Adults believe the economy is in a recession. Seventy percent (70%) of investors share that view.
Just 24% believe that increased government spending is good for the economy. Most voters take the opposite view . However, a majority of the Political Class believe that more government spending is good for the economy.
A new study by three Harvard Business School professors finds that this may be another case where Mainstream Americans are ahead of the Political Class. Their study found that when a powerful legislator brings home federal dollars, it actually hurts the local economy and leads to lower employment.
Other recent polling has shown the just 55% of homeowners believe their home is worth more than their mortgage . Twenty-seven percent (27%) expect the value of their home to go up in the next 12 months while 21% expect the opposite.
The Rasmussen Consumer Index and Investor Indexes are derived from nightly telephone surveys of 500 adults and reported on a three-day rolling average basis. The baseline for the Index was established at 100.0 in October 2001. Readings above 100.0 indicate that confidence is higher than in the baseline month. Detailed supplemental information is available for Premium Members . Historical data for the Consumer and Investor indexes as well as attitudes about the economy and personal finances are also available to Premium Members.
The Rasmussen Consumer Index reached its highest level ever at 127.0 on January 6, 2004. The all-time low was reached on March 10, 2009 at 54.7.
The Rasmussen Investor Index reached its highest level ever at 150.9 on January 7, 2004. The lowest level ever measured was 52.5 on March 9, 2009.
The baseline for the Rasmussen Consumer Index was established at 100.0 in October 2001. At 78.5, overall levels of economic confidence are significantly lower today than they were in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.