The Bush administration is hoping to jump-start the economy with $168 billion in tax rebates. But it’s a plan based on a faith in consumerism: The money must be spent to have an impact. Rebates will begin appearing in bank accounts today, just as confidence in the economy has sunk to its lowest level in 26 years.

Takeaway facts:

• Starting today, the Treasury Department will begin sending up to $600 for individual taxpayers or up to $1,200 for couples, along with $300 per child to about 130 million American households.
• In February, the rebates were expected to total about $168 billion.
• In response to President Bush's suggestion that consumers use the money to pay for higher food and gas prices, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told the Associated Press, "It's galling to think that taxpayers' stimulus checks will be lining the pockets of OPEC."
• Thirty percent of check recipients plan to spend their tax rebate, according to a study by the University of Michigan, while 70 percent plan to save it or pay off debts.
• Goldman Sachs thinks these ten public companies could benefit the most from the stimulus: Cheesecake Factory Inc. (CAKE), Best Buy Co Inc. (BBY), Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI, the owners of Red Lobster, the Olive Garden, Longhorn Grille and the Capital Grille), Home Depot Inc. (HD), JC Penney Co. Inc. (JCP), Kroger Co. (KR), Kohl's Corp. (KSS), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL), Capital Southwest Corp. (SFW, the owners of Safeway) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT).
• About 7.7 million Americans will receive rebates electronically this week, according to the White House.

Guest: Harriet Brackey, personal finance columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel