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."
Rasmussen Consumer Index
After Hitting New Lows on Friday, Consumer and Investor Confidence Stabilize
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis, picked up two points on Saturday after falling two on Friday. At 75.2. the Index is still eighteen points below the high-water mark for this year. With the exception of yesterday, it is the lowest level of confidence measured since September 2010. The Consumer Index is down three points from a week ago and 13 points from a month ago.
The Rasmussen Investor Index gained three points on Saturday, not quite as much as it fell on Friday. At 88.6, investor confidence is down three points from a week ago and 15 points from a month ago.
After rising steadily from the summer of 2010 to reach a two-year high in January, 2011, consumer confidence began to slip in February. So far in March, every single daily reading of the Consumer Index has been lower than the February average.
Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Americans continue to believe the United States is in a recession.
A separate survey shows that most Americans believe employee pay should be set based upon performance rather than education or seniority.
These results come at a time when only 33% of workers expect to be making more money a year from today . That's down from 49% two years ago. Thirty percent (30%) are looking for work outside of their current company.
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 Platinum Members . Historical data for the Consumer and Investor indexes as well as attitudes about the economy and personal finances are also available to Platinum 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 75.2, overall levels of economic confidence are significantly lower today than they were in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.