You may not be rich, but you are certainly starting to feel wealthier.

He looked at the types of goods - like cars, yachts and second homes - that rich people might buy if they felt wealthier.

Surging stock prices - themselves in part a response to higher profit expectations - left consumers feeling wealthier and more willing to spend.

The booming stock market has clearly aided the economy, as investors who felt wealthier spent more.

High house prices may have made homeowners feel wealthier, but much of it has been an illusion.

The bank could also buy bonds and other assets, driving up their prices and making consumers feel wealthier.

Those who owned homes might have felt wealthier, but they did not take on additional debt.

If stock prices keep rising, consumers are likely to continue spending, as they feel wealthier every day.

Households will feel wealthier and companies, which are sitting on almost £70bn of cash, may start investing.

Rising stock prices would help the economy by making consumers feel wealthier and allowing companies to raise money on favorable terms.