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U.S. small and mid-sized business owners intend to manage through the recession through reductions in capital spending and expenses amid divided opinions about the benefits of the federal stimulus program, according to the PNC Economic Outlook survey's newest findings.

Reversing seven months of crumbling confidence, Americans' economic enthusiasm rallied this month, according to the most recent results of the RBC CASH (Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household) Index, which posted its first significant improvement since September 2008. Overall consumer confidence advanced 30.1 points, bringing the RBC CASH Index to 38.3 in April, compared to 8.2 in March. Consumer sentiment was bolstered by a 58.3 point increase in Americans' expectations for the future. Americans' attitudes about current conditions and investing also increased in the past month, but they continue to worry about jobs.

The current economic crisis has caused many companies worldwide to make changes in the benefits they offer their employees, such as cutting bonuses, pensions, 401(k) matches or salary increases. But what happens when the economic crisis is over – will these companies reinstate these benefits or not? At the moment, only a minority of Americans believe these benefits will be reinstated.

Mortgage rates were slightly higher this week, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increasing to 5.2 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.47 discount and origination points.

According to the annual sales tax rate study issued by Vertex, Inc., the leading provider of corporate enterprise tax solutions, 554 U.S. cities changed their sales tax rates in 2008. Of those, 200 were newly imposed city tax rates and 307 were straight increases to existing city tax rates. Other changes in sales, transit, and use taxes, combined with new and pending changes for 2009 indicate that state and local governments are scrutinizing tax rates in light of the current economic turmoil.

From September 2007 to September 2008, employment declined in more than half of the largest U.S. counties, according to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Elkhart County, Ind., located about 100 miles east of Chicago, posted the largest percentage decline, with a loss of 10.8 percent over the year, compared with a national job decrease of 0.8 percent. Manufacturing sustained the largest employment losses in Elkhart.

Buoyed by a sustained stock market rally, executive attitudes about the state of the global economy ticked up in March, though the majority still feel we are in the midst of a "severe recession" according to results from the latest Executive Quiz released by The Korn/Ferry Institute. Additional findings show that executives favor limited involvement by governments in key corporate actions such as layoffs and compensation limits, but the majority feels that bonuses should be returned by executives at companies receiving government bailout funds.

U.S. consumers believe mobile banking is important but do no not want to pay for it and also are wary of using their mobile devices such as cell phones, smartphones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) for financial transactions and online banking, according to results of a survey conducted by KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm.

AAA's 2009 edition of "Your Driving Costs" shows the average cost of owning and operating a new car in the U.S. has remained relatively unchanged despite lower fuel costs. The average cost for a new sedan driven 15,000 miles per year is 54 cents per mile, only 0.1 cent less than reported in 2008.

The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor jumped 3.8 points in March to 79.5 (based out of 100) as the number of consumers saying the economy was getting better nearly doubled from February.