The Election Hangs on Consumer Sentiment?

"The election hangs on consumer sentiment”. That's the claim of the Conference Board, which says incumbent parties have won the popular vote (but in Al Gore's case not the White House) every time its Consumer Confidence Index was at or above 100 on election day during the past eight elections. Challengers have won the three times the Index was below that level. Source: Forbes August 16 issue. Latest CFI reading: 101.9, down from 140 in 2000. Three more readings before the election, to be released on August 24, September 28, and October 26. Stay tuned!