The Rasmussen Investor Index gained seven points on Wednesday and has now surged twelve points since Monday’s big day on Wall Street. At 79.9, investor confidence is up eight points from a week ago and at the highest level of the past three weeks. However, that’s not saying all that much considering that the Investor Index found confidence falling to record lows six days in a row last week. Investor confidence remains down nearly twenty points since Lehman Brothers collapsed in mid-September.

Driving the change among investors are increased expectations that the economy is getting better. Today, 19% of investors say the economy is getting better. That’s up from a meager 7% over the weekend. Sixty-five percent (65%) say the economy is getting worse, a drop from 76% on Sunday.

The Rasmussen Consumer Index gained three points to 70.9. The Consumer Index is up five points from a week ago but down sixteen points from a month ago. Fourteen percent (14%) of all consumers think the economy is improving.

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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. 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 October 11, 2008 at 63.2.

The Rasmussen Investor Index reached its highest level ever at 150.9 on January 7, 2004. The lowest level ever measured was 66.4 on October 12, 2008.

The baseline for the Rasmussen Consumer Index was established at 100.0 in October 2001. The current reading of 70.9 that overall levels of economic confidence are lower today than the confidence level in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.