The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis, regained three points on Monday after falling to record lows over the past week. At 63.1, the Consumer Index is up two points from a week ago, down nine points from a month ago and down thirty-six points from the beginning of the year.

Before Thanksgiving, 66% of Americans said they expected to spend less on holiday shopping this year. The first post-Thanksgiving update on holiday spending will be released tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Rasmussen Investor Index also regained a bit of lost ground by climbing three points today. The Investor Index set an all-time low last Wednesday, just before the Thanksgiving holiday break. At 65.4, the Investor Index is down two points over the past week, down thirteen points over the past month and down forty-seven points from the beginning of the year.

Sometimes, it is difficult to put the daily numbers in context without viewing a longer-term trend. For the full-month of November, confidence fell to the lowest levels recorded in the seven-year history of the Rasmussen Index. That’s the sixth time in nine months that a new record low has been establish. Since January 2007, confidence has crashed with the Consumer Index falling 46% and the Investor Index falling more than 50%.

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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 November 22, 2008 at 60.1.

The Rasmussen Investor Index reached its highest level ever at 150.9 on January 7, 2004. The lowest level ever measured was 62.6 on November 26, 2008.

The baseline for the Rasmussen Consumer Index was established at 100.0 in October 2001. The current reading of 63.1 that overall levels of economic confidence are lower today than the confidence level in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.