As 2012 came to a close, the looming debt ceiling and much talked about “fiscal cliff” certainly did nothing to boost consumer confidence. In fact, SymphonyIRI’s Q4 2012 MarketPulse survey found that shopper sentiment dropped to its lowest point since Q3 2011. While consumers across all age groups feel the strain of ongoing economic strife, those aged 35-54 convey particularly gloomy attitudes, with 43 percent stating that their financial situation deteriorated in 2012. “Thr...