DALLAS, Apr 25, 2007/ --- The Conference Board reported yesterday that Consumer Confidence continued to decline in April, its latest survey revealing that it now stands at 104.0, a 4.2 point drop from March’s 108.2.

And when it rains, it pours. Reports also came in that real estate values went down 8.1%, the lowest in 28 years. Still, the round of depressing news was not over. On a different survey by the National Small Business Association (NSBA), it was disclosed that 42% of small businesses are uneasy about the economy’s future.

Now, to make things more interesting for analysts, The American Affluence Research Center (AARC) reported that in the US, millionaires now exceed 9 million households according to its Affluent Market Tracking Study #11.

The survey also profiles these millionaires as having an average income of $356,000, a primary residence with an average value of $1.2 million, an average net worth of $3.5 million, and an average of $1.7 million in investable assets.

The millionaires are more positive in their economic outlook and spending plans than the less affluent in the survey.

For these millionaire households, the composite 12-Month Economic Outlook Index of 104 still represents a modestly positive outlook overall, despite the slightly negative index (98) for future business conditions. The indexes of expectations for future business conditions, the stock market, and household income are all within 2 points of the prior survey.

Still, on another study released today by U.S. Trust about Americans with higher net worth, i.e., those with $25 million in total assets, revealed that 84% of them acquired their personal wealth on their own, i.e., they became wealthy later in life.

And, their concerns are very different from the average consumer. For this affluent Americans, their top financial worry is that the U.S. is losing its competitive edge in the world economy (74%) and that the budget deficit will affect the economy over the long term (74%).

These were followed by concerns that the next generation will have a more difficult time financially, cited by 73% of survey respondents. Seventy-two percent of respondents worry that environmental issues will require more government spending and that taxes will rise significantly over the next few years. Another prominent concern is that high taxes will reduce the value of their estate (71%).

Compare these worries of the affluent to the average consumer who are troubled with rising gas prices and finding a job.

According to the Conference Board, respondents for its Consumer Confidence survey said that "hard to get" rose to 20.4 percent from 18.9 percent. Those claiming jobs are "plentiful" decreased to 27.8 percent from 30.3 percent in March.

The dichotomy between the average consumer, the rich and the super rich can easily be seen in these different surveys that were all released yesterday. But, there is a common thread that binds all of them – the worry about the U.S. economy.

The focus of their concerns might be different; their outlook is defined by financial demography. Put them all together and you will get the total economic picture.