Most Americans aren't too happy with how things have gone since the Obama Administration took power, according to a recent Bloomberg poll. The survey found that two-thirds of those questioned think the country is headed in the wrong direction and just over half think their personal situation has deteriorated.

This doesn't surprise us too much. With unemployment continuing to hover close to 10%, it's hard to feel too rosy about the economy. We doubt all of this is the Obama Administration's fault, but we can leave that up to the droves of political commentators out there to figure out.

Interestingly enough, the poll ties holiday sales to Americans' overall economic situation under Obama. It found that 46% of those surveyed plan to spend less this holiday season than last year. Only 12% are spending more.

This is an area we feel a little more qualified to weigh in on. Though the consumer might still be going through some very tough times, the overall retail picture seems to have brightened. Chain stores' retail sales continue to improve. Major chains are upping their expansion plans. And at the recent, overall optimistic ICSC New York conference, a lot of numbers were thrown around forecasting the percentage increase in retail sales this holiday, from 2% to 6%, but no one we heard from predicted any kind of slide.

So there is definitely a disconnect between the consumers polled in the Bloomberg survey and how the retail industry views the situation. How do you view the retail picture right now? Are things really improving, or do you see the consumer still suffering enough that a large recovery is unlikely?