The US Consumer Confidence Index slid to its lowest point in January, 2009, since reporting began in 1967 according to the Conference Board, a New York-based research group.  The Consumer Confidence Index expresses the level of optimism in the economy consumers possess, the idea being the higher the level of optimism, the greater the likelihood consumers will spend their money.  In January, 2008, the index stood at 89.7 while in December it plunged to a revised 38.6 representing a decline of over 50 points.  The decline has continued in January, 2009, with the index falling to 37.7, a new all-time low.  Clearly, consumers believe the economy is severely broken and have no expectation for improvement in the foreseeable future.   Hebert Research’s assessment shows that Washington State consumers are more optimistic than the nation as a whole—48.4 for Washington residents vs. 37.7 nationally—although, overall, optimism among Washington consumers remains extremely low.