[RetiredArmy]

Gas prices are down, thus poll numbers are up. That is the main reason. When you ask someone how his "finances" are, they always drag gas prices into it. Dudden matter they just paid $45,000 for a vehicle that after 2 months is now worth about $20,000 on trade value, thus losing about $25,000, it is those $2.25 gas prices that bother them. Not the $350 bucks for "stuff" at Wal Mart or the Gap. It is those $2.25 gas prices that has him down. It is always gas prices. I heard a fellow employee say recently that he got a raise, but it won't help much, "with gas prices so high."

[jayef]

I think everybody makes the connection between higher energy costs and higher costs for all of the things they consume which require transport or shipping.