For months, economists have been in suspense to

For months, economists have been in suspense to see whether the broad decline in house prices will trigger a drop in consumer spending as people note the falling value of their chief asset. The findings of a nationwide Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll suggest those experts should keep their worries to themselves, lest they scare the many people who are blissfully unaware of any downward trend in house prices. Adults were asked whether they think house values in their own neighborhood will increase, decrease or remain the same six months from now.