Letter: Can consumers really be more confident?

What an odd paradox Newsday presented on a page from Feb. 29. At the top of the page, there was the sentiment that the Dow closing above the 13,000 mark is fueled by growing "consumer confidence" ["13,000 Dow close," News].

Yet right below that is an account of gasoline prices climbing above $4 per gallon for the first time in several months ["LI gas prices climb to $4," News]. That, to me, has the exact opposite effect and decreases consumer confidence. I know that my confidence goes down when I see that.

In the end, there seems to be no way that the ordinary consumer will be allowed to achieve any benefit from this economy.

Denis O'Driscoll, Westbury