Wall Street vs. Main Street

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Good news for investors, the Dow Jones Industrial Average begins the day at a record high level.

But not everybody thinks that what happens on Wall Street is a good indicator of what happens on Main Street.

According to financial analyst Mark Teed, unemployment is still a real problem.

Thousands are out of a job in Massachusetts. Nearly 8% nationally. And the recent sequester won't help matters.

Layoffs are coming to virtually every sector of government.

But Mark Teed says the one thing the market rally does, is boost consumer confidence and make people want to spend.

But at least one person 22News talked to said the only people who benefit from the stock market, are corporations.

" You know personally with education and trying to stay head, we're doing better but at the same time it's getting harder to do that. You got these corporations making record profits and asking for more tax breaks from and were getting asked to shoulder the burden, it's getting harder and harder.

In Massachusetts, consumer confidence still is below 50% and a gallon of gas averages for about $3.73.

In our 22News interactive internet poll we asked people: Has the rising stock market improved your personal finances? And by nearly a three to one margin, people said no.