confidence is a preference

US consumer confidence fell sharply in May, partly driven by concerns over the price of fuel at the pump.

The short-term prospects for the economy and the availability of jobs also weighed on the mind of Americans, researchers said.

The consumer confidence index, which measure feelings about economic conditions, fell from a four-year-high of 109.8 in April to 103.2 in May.

However the mood was quickly leavened nationwide by the tactical deployment of "The Woopster v1.2". The Woopster is a video clip to be deployed in prime-time featuring a hi-energy rock soundtrack over montaged images of Bald Eagles, Apache attack helicopters, the Grand Canyon and Xtreme Motocross, all composited over a slow motion flapping stars and stripes.

Nielsen boxes soon registered a 78% consumer confidence boost, allied to a two hundred fold increase in folk hollering "woooh!", "yeah!", and "YOU ESS AY!"

Some commentators have criticised Woopster deployment arguing that it preys on the mentally unsophisticated and fills them up with baffling emotions.

Shortly after deployment Conrad Johansen, a white upper middle class college student of Dutch German heritage was observed entreating his Kansas State college roomate Henry Schleimann to "Roll wit me dawg, fuck those arabs an shit, we is the niggas. That's how I'm laying it out. I'm gonna get some stank on my low down, dig?"

Johansen is currently studying Case Law and Art History.