So people trust beancounters more than the US President.

Last month, it was revealed that less than half the population believe that accountants had great or considerable prestige and about one in 10 said beancounters had little prestige.

Now, we learn that people are starting to trust accountants again. And they trust them more than they do the President or members of Congress.

With the Enron, WorldCom and similar convictions coming in and there's being some closure on the accounting fraud scandals at the beginning of this decade, about 7 out of 10 people now believe accountants are telling the truth, according to a Harris Interactive poll.

Indeed, accountants had the biggest increase in US adults who think they are telling the truth: 68 per cent versus 55 per cent four years ago.

And your average beancounter is now regarded as more trustworthy than the President and members of Congress.

Accountants also poll better than the man or woman in the street, civil servants, bankers, TV newscasters, athletes, journalists, pollsters, trade union leaders and stockbrokers.

Lawyers and actors are on the bottom of the heap.

On the other hand, people are more likely to believe in judges, military officers, clergymen or priests, professors, police officers and scientists.

Teachers and doctors seem to have the most credibility.

Which group would you trust more?