the economic universe is collpasing onto itself

for feck's sake, someone just tell me how this is possible—consumer spending has increased by .8 percent but consumer confidence* has dipped 5 points. glaring paradox anyone? we're buying more than we want to? what, are these people trying to trick pollsters into believing they're not consumer whores, and then as soon as they're done, they scurry off to the mall? wtf?

*a market-moving monthly indicator of consumers' attitudes and buying intentions.