More on tomorrow's numbers

I keep thinking that the numbers are going to be better then everybody thinks, based solely on the occasional surprise earnings numbers we have been seeing lately. The last two ISM announcements have beaten expectations. But then I saw this from my MarketNews wire:

...(referring to the U.S.) Declines underway in the present situation index point squarely at deep job contraction, according to Lynn Franco, head of the Conference Board's consumer confidence survey. The present situation index fell 8 tenths to 21.5 in March, its eighth straight decline and on its way, according to Franco, to the teens and levels last seen in the early 80s.