In the most recent Wealth Hazards Worry Index, 40 percent of respondents believe the U.S. economy could enter another recession in 2010 if the government does not provide a stimulus plan. According to the index, 32 percent are unsure if this “double-dip” is imminent, and only 28 percent of people are confident no recession will occur this year.

“The government stimulus and support programs in 2009 were instrumental in holding the economy together so that the recovery process could get underway, the fragility of the recovery is now center stage,” said Thomas Hertog, editor at Wealth Hazards.

Concerned with how their own financial health will be impacted, respondents to the Wealth Hazards Worry Index cited continuing concerns about the expiration of government stimulus and support programs. Specifically, respondents were worried about the high rate of unemployment, rising interest rates, price inflation, more foreclosures, flat wages, and wage deflation as employers bargain hung for new employees.

“Many people remain vigilant as they wait and see if the other shoe is going to drop in 2010,” Hertog said. “Fatigue factor has set in, and consumers want to know that their jobs are safe, their home values will not fall another 10 percent, and that folks in government are not going to choke-off the recovery by letting support programs end before they fully stimulate the economy.”

The Federal Reserve program to buy mortgage-backed securities has kept 30-year mortgage rates at all-time lows, but an exit from this program or a hasty retreat that is poorly times could result in another real estate turndown, Wealth Hazards said. In addition, the new $174 billion Jobs for Main Street Act stimulus bill appears to be facing an uphill battle in Congress as the Obama administration tries to provide support to a struggling job market recovery. The hope in 2009 was that “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects would ease unemployment in constructions and materials, but the actual improvement is proving to be more difficult to measure.

Wealth Hazards, a newsletter established to help people avoid, manage, and recover from life’s wealth hazards, said its Worry Index was created to capture the ever-changing sentiment of consumers. Using various questions and methodologies designed to better understand what issues are of the most concern to consumers, the index is measured each month.