Consumer Unconfidence?

Just  to make sure you all stayed confused this week, I've been checking out some info on Consumer Confidence levels. So stop watching the Democratic Convention or Trading Spouses or whatever and get ready for these two "conflicting" polls:

A CBS/New York Times Poll conducted on June 23 - 27 revealed that 16% of Americans believe that they are better off financially than before Bush became President, 27% feel that they are worse off, 56% feel that they are the same, and 1% are unsure. (Margin of Error ± 3)

However, a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 49% of Americans think they are better off now than they were four years ago, 36% think they are worse off, 14% think they are the same, and 1% are unsure, weakminded folk. (Margin of Error ± 3).

So what exactly is the deal with this?

Well, lets check out the questions. From the CBS Poll:

"Is your family financially better off today than it was before George W. Bush became president, is it worse off financially, or is it about the same as it was before George W. Bush became president?"

From the CNN Poll:

"Would you say you and your family are better off now than you were four years ago, or are you worse off now?"

Aha! Eureka! One is asking whether or not you are financially better off, the other is asking if you are just plain better off. Also, one references Bush, the other does not.

If only all the polls would ask the exact same questions and conduct their polls in the exact same fashion, it would make trying to figure out the disparity between polling numbers much more interesting.