Poll: Consumer confidence slides

PRINCETON, N.J., March 18 (UPI) -- Consumer confidence in the U.S. economy declined markedly in the week ending March 16, a Gallup Poll survey released Tuesday indicated.

The gap between those who rated the U.S. economy to be "excellent" and those who rated it to be "poor" was 14 points, with "poor" getting more responses, in the last week of February, Gallup said. By the week ending March 16, the average gap had widened to 24 points.

The number varies among income groups with a gap of 36 points, again with "poor" out-polling "excellent," for those making less than $24,000 a year, a gap of 26 points for those making $24,000 to $60,000 a year and a gap of 13 for those making $60,000 to $90,000 a year.

In January the poll indicated 23 percent more respondents making more than $90,000 a year said the economy was "excellent," compared to "poor" while in March that declined with "poor" given as an answer by 10 percent more respondents than "excellent," Gallup said.

The survey is based on 3,500 telephone interviews and carries a sampling error of 2 percentage points.