Poll: New Yorkers More Optimistic About Economy

New Yorkers' consumer confidence is rising even as other Americans become more pessimistic, a new survey shows.

The Siena College poll released Friday finds consumer confidence in New York rose almost 3 percentage points in February as the national confidence level dropped another 5 points.

As for the future, New Yorkers are also more optimistic. Consumer confidence in the future rises 7 percentage points for New Yorkers, while American consumer confidence drops 7 points.

That puts the consumer confidence rate for New Yorkers at about 58 percent and rising while the nation's rate is 66 percent and dropping.

A Siena pollster said the federal stimulus and a more stable economy in New York make residents more bullish on the future than most Americans.