11.   A. The consumer is feeling more buoyant than he was, but that is a relative judgment, because he was very depressed a year ago.

12.   But commission president Daniel William Fessler said the decline in rates from deregulation should be felt by consumers.

13.   But he said the tax cut may help the economy long-term, because consumers will feel more confident.

14.   But with interest rates higher, most home refinancing has stopped, and as a result, some consumers feel they have less money, Caruso said.

15.   But until consumers feel more confident in the economy, the folks at the Prudential Pioneer real estate office will have good reasons for being glum.

16.   Companies want to know how consumers feel so they can create advertising and products that resonate with the public and better predict their success.

17.   Consumers are feeling better than they have in years mostly because of an abundance of jobs and greater job security.

18.   Consumers have been feeling the effects of high natural gas prices in their electric bills this summer, since utilities use natural gas to fire their electric generating plants.

19.   Consumers have felt the pinch of higher gasoline prices, but some truckers say that soaring diesel prices could drive them out of business.

20.   Consumers still feel generally positive about the economy, said James Padinah, an economist with Briefing.com in Jackson Hole Wyoming.