1.   And consumers certainly feel they are better off than they were four years ago.

2.   And maybe consumers will be feeling better.

3.   And the healthy real estate market, especially the rise in home prices, has a way of making consumers feel better still.

4.   And many consumers feel virtuous when they drink a glass of skim milk with a slice of cheesecake.

5.   Another measure to determine what consumers feel uses pictures instead of words.

6.   As ever-bigger versions of these vehicles fill the road, more consumers may feel compelled to buy them so as not to be disadvantaged in a crash.

7.   As stock prices soared, consumers felt wealthier, if only on paper.

8.   Bank officials add that consumers apparently feel the fingerprinting is a necessary security precaution against potential fraud.

9.   Because of stiff penalties, consumers could indeed feel locked into a contract they may want to break sooner than the termination date.

10.   A stronger economy can bring higher prices as more people find jobs and consumers feel more confident about making purchases.