Two new surveys suggest that financial optimism is on the rise. But even with the improving numbers, among average Americans, those who are upbeat about their personal finances are outnumbered by the pessimists, and we're still wary of buying stocks.
A new poll from Bankrate.com shows that only 17% of Americans feel better off financially than they were a year ago. The Financial Security Index fell from 93.9 to 92.8 in October to its second lowest level this year.
According to Bankrate.com's latest Financial Security Index, consumers' feelings about their money and job situations reached a new level of despair for 2011 in early August, with the index hitting a low of 92.3, down from 95.6 the month before.