Business

62% Look Forward to Going to Work

The number of employed Americans who put in more than 40 hours a week on the job has increased since a year ago, but most still say they look forward to going to work each day.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 28% of Working Americans say they work a 40-hour week. Thirty-eight percent (38%) work more than that, with 10% who work more than 50 hours a week.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 612 Working Americans was conducted on May 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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% Favor Raising Minimum Wage to $10.10 an Hour

Support for raising the minimum wage remains unchanged from earlier this year, with half of Americans continuing to favor President Obama's proposal to push it up to $10.10 an hour.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults favor raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. That’s essentially unchanged from late February but down from a high of 61% in July of last year. Thirty-nine percent (39%) still oppose raising the minimum wage to that level, also unchanged from February but up from 29% last summer. Nine percent (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 6-7, 2014 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 Still Think Government Workers Better Off Than Those in Private Sector

Americans still believe government workers not only earn more money than those in the private sector but also work less and have more job security. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults think the average government employee earns more annually than the average private sector worker. Half as many (26%) disagree, but 23% are not sure. (To see survey questions, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 30-May 1, 2014 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.

36% Say More Government Hiring Would Be Good for Economy

Most Americans continue to oppose extended government help for the long-term unemployed. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% of American Adults believe the government should extend unemployment benefits indefinitely for those who can’t find work for an extended period of time. Twelve percent (12%) think the government should hire those who can’t find work for an extended period. But 31% prefer the short-term solution of paying for their retraining, while another 31% think the government should nothing at all for the long-term unemployed. Twelve percent (12%) 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 April 30-May 1, 2014 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.

42% Know Someone Who Has Given Up Looking for a Job

Americans are slightly more optimistic about the job market than they were two months ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of American Adults know someone who is out of work and looking for a job. That’s down four points from March and is the lowest finding measured since September. From 2010 through early last year, this figure regularly ran in the mid- to high 70s. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 30-May 1, 2014 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.

49% Still Think Financial Bailouts Bad For U.S.

Looking back, half of voters continue to disagree with the government bailouts of the financial industry.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 30% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the government bailouts of the financial sector were good for America.  Forty-nine percent (49%) say they were bad for the country instead. Twenty-one percent (21%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 19-20, 2014 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.

52% Consider a Home a Family’s Best Investment

Americans still to tend to view a home as a family’s best investment and remain cautiously optimistic about the current housing market where they live.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of American Adults say now is a good time for someone in their area to sell a house, up slightly from a month ago but down from September's high of 39%. Thirty-nine percent (39%) now disagree and think it's not a good time to sell. But that's a seven-point improvement from 46% in March. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are undecided.

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 18-19, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

24% Believe Gov't Should Assist Those Who Can’t Make Mortgage Payments

Support for the government helping underwater homeowners remains at higher levels than it has been in been for most of the past four years. A new Rasmussen Reports national survey telephone survey finds that 24% of Americans believe that if someone cannot afford to make their increased mortgage payments, the government should assist them in making those payments. That's down just one point from 25% in February, the highest level of support for government assistance on mortgage payments since September 2012. Sixty-one percent (61%), however, still believe if someone cannot afford to make their mortgage payments, that person should sell the home and find a less expensive one. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 653 Adult Homeowners and 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 18-19, 2014 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.

38% Think Their Home Will Be Worth More A Year From Now

Short- and long-term confidence in the housing market remain at levels seen since the beginning of last year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of American homeowners expect their home’s value to go up over the next year. That's up two points from March and the highest finding since October. Just 13% expect housing values to go down over the next year, while nearly half (46%) think they will remain the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 668 Adult Homeowners was conducted on April 18-19, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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

Most Americans say they are paying the same amount in interest as they were a year ago, but half expect to be paying more a year from now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey funds that 28% of American Adults owe more money than they did a year ago, down from last month’s recent high of 31%. Thirty-three percent (33%) say they owe less than they did a year ago, while slightly more (35%) say they owe about the same amount. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 14-15, 2014 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% Expect to Pay More For Groceries A Year From Now

Three-out-of-four Americans remain concerned about inflation, and the number who expects to pay more in the grocery store a year from now is higher than it’s been in months.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of American Adults are at least somewhat concerned about inflation, with 38% who are Very Concerned. Twenty percent (20%) don't share that concern, but that includes just four percent (4%) who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 14-15, 2014 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% Still Confident in Stability of Banking System

Half of American Adults are still confident in the stability of the U.S. banking system today.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the nation's banks, but that includes just 10% who are Very Confident. Forty-four percent (44%) are not confident in the banking industry, with 12% 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 was conducted on April 14-15, 2014 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.

65% of Internet Users Are Still Confident in Banking, Business Online

Most Americans now bank online and are comfortable with doing business over the Internet in spite of the recently disclosed Heartbleed security breach. But most also admit they have had to change Internet passwords because of security worries.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of American Adults now use the Internet at least once a week, with 66% who say they use it every day or nearly every day. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 10-11, 2014 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.

54% Think Increased Reliance on Internet Makes U.S. Economy More Vulnerable

The recently-disclosed Heartbleed bug has reportedly jeopardized the security of a number of major web sites, and many Americans now worry that increased dependency on the Internet puts the U.S. economy more at risk.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults think America’s increasing reliance on the Internet for business and financial transactions makes the economy more vulnerable to attack. Just eight percent (8%) think this increased dependency makes the U.S. economy less vulnerable, while 31% say the level of risk is unchanged. (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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 10-11, 2014 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.

88% Plan to File Income Taxes by Today; 53% Question Fairness of Tax System

Today is Tax Day, and while most Americans expect a refund this year, just over half think they pay more than their fair share.A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey conducted over the past weekend finds that 75% of American Adults have filed their income taxes, while another 13% expect to do so by today’s deadline. Five percent (5%) plan to get an extension. This is consistent with findings for the past two years. (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 was conducted on April 12-13, 2014 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.

13% Think They’ll Be Earning Less Money in a Year

Most Americans still consider themselves middle class, but slightly more now think they’ll be earning less money in a year’s time.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 13% of Employed Adults think they will be earning less money a year from now, up from an all-time low of six percent (6%) in February but more in line with regular surveying since early 2010. Forty-two percent (42%), though, still expect to be earning more, down only slightly from two months ago. Thirty-seven percent (37%) think they’ll be earning about the same amount next year. (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 580 Employed Adults was conducted on March 31-April 1, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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% Say Their Current Job Offers Better Advancement Opportunities

One-in-four workers are still not willing to commit to their current job. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 26% of Employed Adults are looking for a job outside of their current company, consistent with surveys for the past three years. A sizable majority (65%) still says it is not looking for a new job elsewhere, down six points from February. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 580 Employed Adults was conducted on March 31-April 1, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

47% Think It Will Take More Than Three Years For Housing Prices to Recover

Nearly half of American Adults think housing prices will still take several more years to recover, and few have high hopes for the stock market in the near future. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% think it will take housing prices more than three years to recover from the downturn that began in 2008. That's unchanged from a year ago but slightly more optimistic than Americans had been about the housing market since mid-2010.  Five percent (5%) think it will take only a year for house prices to recover; 12% say two years, and 18% think it will take another three years. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure. (To see question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 25-26, 2014 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 Low: Just 24% Think Economy Will Be Stronger in a Year

Short-term optimism about the nation's economic recovery has reached an all-time low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just one-in-four American Adults (24%) now think the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from now, down nine points from October and the lowest finding in over six years of regular surveying. Nearly twice as many (46%) expect a weaker economy in a year’s time, up from 41% in the previous survey. Twenty-two percent (22%) think the economy will remain about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 25-26, 2014 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.

Americans Still Like Ford Better Than Chrysler, GM

Ford, the one Big Three automaker who didn't take a federal bailout, is still better liked than General Motors and Chrysler, and a sizable number of Americans continue to say their buying patterns are dictated by those bailouts.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults still have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Ford, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-three percent (23%) have an unfavorable opinion. This includes 25% with a Very Favorable opinion of the company, and six percent (6%) with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 March 23-24, 2014 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.