Consumers report less debt-related stress in 2009

Small businesses may start to see the impact of happier consumers, as a recent poll by the Associated Press and research group GfK found that debt-related stress declined in 2009.

Despite the highest unemployment rate in 26 years, the survey found that debt-related stress declined by 12 percent compared to 2008's reading.

"I wouldn't conclude by any stretch that consumers feel safe or comfortable," James Hamilton, economics professor at the University of California at San Diego told the Associated Press. "But I think the uncertainty has mitigated. Some of the big fears people had at least disappeared some."

The number of consumers who were concerned that they would never be able to pay off their debts decreased from 33 percent last year, landing at 27 percent this year.

The number of people who worry "most or all of the time" about debt also declined, with this year's reading of 19 percent marking a 5 percent decrease from last year.

The survey also reported that a majority of consumers surveyed "hardly ever fret or don't worry at all about debt" - 47 percent of respondents indicated that was the case, up from 41 percent last year.

These numbers could spell increased sales and working capital for small businesses, especially considering the Bureau of Economic Analysis's recent report that disposable personal income increased 6 percent this quarter - a significant jump from the previous quarter's 2.9 percent increase.