General Business

52% Lack Confidence In Stability of U.S. Banking System

Most Americans remain unsure about the state of banks in this country.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, but that includes just 10% who are Very Confident.  Most adults (52%), in fact, lack confidence in the country’s banking system, with 15% who are Not At All Confident in it.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on February 5-6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

45% Think Free Trade Good for U.S., 28% Disagree

Call it free trade with limits. Americans still tend to favor free trade agreements with other nations but believe there are some countries that should pay tariffs on the goods they send to the United States. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults think free trade is good for the U.S. economy. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree and think it’s bad for the economy, while 27% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.  

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 24-25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Would Choose Foreign Over American If Product Is Better, Cheaper

Adults nationwide still place high importance on buying American-made products, but most would go with a foreign product if it’s cheaper and better than its American counterpart.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 90% of adults say it’s at least somewhat important to buy a product made in America, including 61% who say it’s Very Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 24-25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

55% Favor Government Subsidizing U.S. Manufacturing

In President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night, he proposed corporate tax credits and tax reductions to encourage an increase in U.S. manufacturing jobs, and a new survey shows a majority of Americans nationwide are on board with the idea.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 55% believe government funds should be used to subsidize manufacturers in the United States through tax credits and other incentives. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, while 15% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 24-25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

70% Prefer Free Market to Government-Managed Economy

Americans still put a lot more faith in the private sector than in government when it comes to making the economy work.

Seventy percent (70%) of American Adults think a free market economy is better than one managed by the government. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% believe a government-managed economy is better. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on January 14-15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

50% Expect Higher Interest Rates Next Year

Though a majority of Americans say they’re paying the same interest rates as they were last year, half think the rates they’ll be paying a year from now will be higher.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 50% believe they will be paying higher interest rates one year from now. Only six percent (6%) think interest rates will be lower next year, while 31% expect them to be about the same. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on January 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Say U.S. Has Crony Capitalist System

With Republicans debating Mitt Romney’s record as a venture capitalist, Americans continue to agree that capitalism is better than socialism, but they give mixed marks to the type of capitalism practiced in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of American Adults now rate capitalism as a better system than socialism. Just 15% think socialism is the better way to go, with another 21% who are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on January 14-15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

72% Still Concerned About Inflation

Concern about inflation remains high but appears to be easing somewhat as Americans show more confidence in the Federal Reserve Board to keep it under control. Still, a sizable majority expects to pay more for groceries in the months ahead.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 42% are at least somewhat confident the Fed will be able to keep inflation under control and interest rates down, including 11% who are Very Confident. However, most (52%) still lack that confidence, with 15% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on January 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

51% Lack Confidence In Stability of U.S. Banking Industry

Most Americans continue to lack confidence in the stability of U.S. banks.  

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 43% are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the banking industry today, but that includes just nine percent (9%) who are Very Confident.  Fifty-one percent (51%) are not confident in the country’s banking system, with 15% who are Not At All Confident.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on January 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

To Help Economy, Voters Want Government To Do More Cutting

A growing number of voters want the government to do more in response to the ailing economy. What they’re looking for, however, is for government to shrink itself rather than expand its presence in the economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters worry more that the federal government will do too much rather than not enough in reacting to the nation’s economic problems.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

40% Confident Fed Can Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Down

Most Americans remain concerned about inflation but are slightly more confident in the Federal Reserve Board's ability to keep it under control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 40% are at least somewhat confident that the Fed will be able to keep inflation under control and interest rates down, but that includes only five percent (5%) who are Very Confident.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

New High: 50% Worry Government Won’t Do Enough To Counter Bad Economy

Most voters continue to believe the government bailouts were a bad idea, but at the same time concern that the government won’t do enough in response to the bad economy has reached its highest level in over three years of regular surveying.

Just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters worry more that the federal government will do too much in reacting to current economic problems. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 50% now are more worried that the government will not do enough, up three points from last month.  Eleven percent (11%) are not sure.

Most Voters Still Feel Tax Cuts, Spending Cuts Help The Economy

Most voters continue to believe that the economy would be better off if both taxes and government spending were reduced, but if taxes are increased, voters still lean toward raising them only on the rich.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters think tax cuts help the economy. That’s in the low end of findings that have ranged from 51% to 63% in monthly surveys since July 2008.  Twenty-one percent (21%) say tax cuts hurt the economy, while 15% say they have no impact. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.

44% Confident in U.S. Banking Industry, 48% Are Not

While confidence in the nation’s banking industry is up from last month, roughly one-in-three Americans are still worried they will lose their money as a result of a bank failure.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including eight percent (8%) who are Very Confident.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

26% Prefer Government-Managed Economy

One-out-of-four Americans continue to believe the government should manage the U.S. economy. Nearly as many say the government should mind its own business.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 26% of American Adults believe the appropriate role of government is to manage the economy, but 23% say it's better for the government to stay out of economic decisions altogether. However, a plurality(46%) thinks the appropriate role for the government in the economy is to provide programs like unemployment insurance to help people through difficult times.

35% Say It’s Still Possible for Anyone in America to Get Rich By Working Hard

At a time when many Americans are lashing out at the top 1% income earners, the number of adults who believe it is possible for anyone in America to work hard and get rich is at its highest level in nearly three years. But one-out-of-two still don't share that belief.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 35% say it is still possible for anyone living in America to work hard and get rich, up three points from September and a finding that has ranged from 26% to 34% since January 2009.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 27-28, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Confidence in Short-Term Economic Growth Remains At Record Low

Confidence among adults nationwide that the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from now remains at an all-time low.

32% Owe More Money Than Last Year

At a time when confidence in the nation’s banking industry is at an all-time low, the number of Americans who say they owe more money than they did last year ties its all-time high.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 32% owe more money today than they did a year ago.

90% Say They're Paying More For Groceries Compared To A Year Ago

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke insists that the Federal Reserve is keeping inflation down, but Americans overwhelmingly say they are paying more for groceries these days and expect to pay even more in a year's time.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 81% are at least somewhat concerned about inflation, including 47% who are Very Concerned. 

Confidence in U.S. Banks Dips to New Low

For the second straight month, Americans are less confident than ever in the nation’s banking industry.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that just 34% are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, including only five percent (5%) who are Very Confident.