The Rasmussen Consumer Index increased a little more than half a point Saturday to 111.5. This was the fifth consecutive day the index has increased and it has risen six points during that period. At 111.5, the Index is five points above its reading one week ago today and has reached its highest reading since the beginning of August. Nationally, 30% believe the U.S. economy is currently in recession. A plurality (43%) disagree, while 27% are not sure.

The Rasmussen Investor Index remained steady today at 131.3. The Index is up three points from a week ago and eight points from where it stood one month ago. Among Investors, 26% feel the U.S. economy is in a recession these days. Most (52%) believe, however, the economy is currently not in a recession.

Economic confidence among small business owners fell in August after briefly rebounding last month as small business owners expressed less confidence in the economic conditions for their business and experienced more cash flow issues, according to the Discover (R) Small Business Watch (SM). At 102.4, the Watch is down nearly five points from July's 107.3 and is nearly level with the Watch's lowest index since its inception, June's 102.5.

Meanwhile, the consumer confidence in personal finances remained steady in August. The Discover (R) Consumer Spending Monitor (SM) showed the number of consumers who said the economy was worsening increased from 58 percent to 62 percent. Yet 41 percent of the same random sample of 15,000 U.S. adults also rated their personal finances as good or excellent, virtually unchanged from July and within a percent of the Monitor baseline established in May of this year.

The Rasmussen Consumer Index and Investor Index are derived from nightly telephone surveys of 500 adults and reported on a three-day rolling average basis. For the full month of January, the Rasmussen Consumer Index rose almost three points from its December average. (see trends and details for demographic groups). 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 March 11, 2003 at 83.2.

The Rasmussen Investor Index reached its highest level ever at 150.9 on January 7, 2004. The lowest level ever measured was 91.1 on March 13, 2003.

The baseline for the Rasmussen Consumer Index was established at 100.0 in October 2001. The current reading of 110.8 means that overall levels of economic confidence are higher today than the confidence level in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.