Since April 28, the Treasury has distributed 94.85 million stimulus payments, totaling $78.3 billion, in the government's effort to revitalize the nation's slackening economy.

The government's stimulus effort is providing some relief for consumers. The Commerce Department said Friday that individual income shot up 1.9% in May as a result of $48.1 billion economic stimulus payments in the month.

The checks accounted for a huge 5.7% rise in disposable income, versus a 0.4% increase in the previous month. The Commerce Department also said personal spending by individuals rose 0.8% in May. When adjusted for inflation, personal income rose 5.3%, while personal spending rose 0.4%.

"The stimulus checks are kicking in," said Christian Menegatti, economist and lead analyst at RGE Monitor, an online economic research company. At the same time, however, consumers know that these checks are only a temporary boon, and consumer confidence reports prove that consumers are still doubtful.

According to the Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers Report released on Friday, consumer confidence fell to a fifty year low. Richard Curtin, the director of the survey, said in a statement that consumers sited "surging gas prices, high food prices" as part of what is contributing to consumers' pessimism.

Source: Cnn.com

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