The Measure of Politics in Every Purchase Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, suggested on "Face the Nation" that the current state of consumer sentiment – which he prefers to call "political sentiment" – reflects a deep disconnect between economic data and public perception.
This disconnect is starkly illustrated by the record breaking highs of the Dow Jones this week, which contrast sharply with the lowest ever levels of consumer confidence.
Hassett's proposal to rebrand consumer sentiment as a political variable has sparked debate about the role of government policies in shaping market outcomes.