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26% View Fed Nominee Janet Yellen Favorably, 35% Don’t Know Who She Is

One is the nation’s most influential banker; the other is about to take over that job. Yet both are unknowns to a sizable number of Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% of American Adults have a favorable opinion of Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, while 41% view him unfavorably. This includes eight percent (8%) with a Very Favorable opinion and 19% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 6-7, 2013 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% Say Gov't Workers Have More Job Security Than Those in Private Sector

Most Americans continue to believe that government workers are better off than those employed in the private sector.

74% Want to Audit the Federal Reserve

Americans still overwhelmingly favor a public audit of the Federal Reserve, perhaps in part because a sizable number think the Fed chairman has too much power over the economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults favor auditing the Federal Reserve and making the results available to the public. Just 10% oppose such an audit, but 16% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 6-7, 2013 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.

23% Favor Long-Term Government Help for Unemployed

Most Americans still think the federal government should avoid a long-term role in aiding those who can’t find work. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 23% of American Adults favor long-term government involvement, with 10% who say unemployment benefits should be extended indefinitely and 13% who say the government should just hire those who can't find a job. That's in line with attitudes for the past year. 

Twenty-seven percent (27%) prefer the short-term government solution of paying for retraining, while 37% think the federal government should do nothing at all for the long-term unemployed. That’s down only slightly from 40% in September, the highest finding in three years of regular surveying. Thirteen percent (13%) are unsure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 4-5, 2013 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.

19% Believe Job Market Better Than A Year Ago, 38% Say Worse

Americans are more pessimistic about the U.S. job market than they have been in nearly two years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows only 19% of American Adults now believe the job market is better than it was one year ago. That's down six points from 25% in September and the lowest finding since December 2011. Thirty-eight percent (38%) believe the job market is worse today than it was a year ago, up seven points from the previous survey and the most pessimistic assessment since October of last year. Thirty-nine percent (39%) expect the job market to remain about the same.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 4-5, 2013 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% Favor Federal Bailout for Detroit, 45% Oppose

With Detroit's bankruptcy now being challenged in federal court, Americans are more supportive of a federal bailout to make sure retired public workers get their full pension benefits, even though most still expect more major cities to declare bankruptcy soon.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of American Adults now believe the federal government should bail out Detroit to make sure the pensions of the city's retired employees are paid in full. A plurality (45%) remains opposed to a federal bailout of Detroit. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 2-3, 2013 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.

24% Say Stock Market Will Be Stronger in a Year

Few Americans believe the stock market will be higher in the near future. A plurality also still thinks housing prices will take more than three years to recover.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 24% of American Adults think the stock market will be higher than it is a year from now. Just as many (23%) believe the market will be lower. Thirty-six percent (36%) think it will be about the same. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on October 25-26, 2013 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. 

41% Say Economy Will Be Weaker in a Year, 33% Say Stronger

Americans remain pessimistic about the economy's recovery over the next year but continue to have slightly higher hopes for five years from now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of American Adults believe the U.S. economy will be stronger in a year's time, consistent with findings for the past year. But 41% think the economy will be weaker a year from now, also showing little change over the past few months but down from a recent high of 50% in November 2012. Nineteen percent (19%) expect the economy to remain the same. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on October 25-26, 2013 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. 

33% Say Financial Industry Bailouts Good for U.S.

Five years after the Wall Street meltdown, nearly half of voters still believe the government bailouts of the financial industry were a bad move, while one-in-three think they were a good idea.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 33% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the government bailouts of the financial sector were good for America. Forty-eight percent (48%) say they were bad for the country. Eighteen percent (18%) aren't sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 24-25, 2013 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.

64% Think Another Shutdown Likely in Mid-January

Most voters want a long-term budget deal that cuts federal spending but expect another government shutdown soon because Congress can’t reach such a deal.

Just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a federal budget that increases spending, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-four percent (54%) prefer a budget that cuts spending instead, while 25% want one that keeps spending levels about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 18-19, 2013 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% Say Buying a Home is Best Investment for Families

More Americans now believe buying a home is a good investment, but belief that now is a good time to sell a home is down from its recent high.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment most families can make. That's up slightly from the past few months but in line with findings in regular surveys earlier this year and throughout 2012. An all-time high of 67% felt that way in May 2009. Just 22% now feel a home is not a family's best investment, while 27% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on October 13-14, 2013 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. 

59% of Homeowners Feel Their Homes Worth More Now

Even more homeowners are confident that their homes have increased in value since they purchased them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American homeowners feel that their home is worth more now than when they bought it. That's a three-point increase from 56% in June and the highest level of confidence since October 2011. Twenty-one percent (21%) believe their home is worth less today, consistent with findings since last December. Eighteen percent (18%) think the value of their home is about the same as when they purchased it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 699 Homeowners was conducted on October 13-14, 2013 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. 

Confidence in Future Home Values Reaches New Highs

Homeowners are more confident than ever in both the short- and long-term values of their homes, and more now say their home is worth more than what they still owe on their mortgage.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of U.S. Homeowners now believe the value of their home will go up over the next year, the highest finding since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking in April 2009. Just 14% think their home will be worth less in a year, down six points from last month and the lowest since July.  Nearly half (46%) think the value of their home will remain about the same over the next year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 699 Homeowners was conducted on October 13-14, 2013 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.

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53% Think More Competition, Less Regulation Better for U.S. Financial System

Americans aren't impressed with the federal government's current regulation of the U.S. financial system and think less regulation is the better way to go. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 12% of American Adults consider the federal government's oversight of the banking industry as good or excellent. Forty-two percent (42%) rate this oversight as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The national telephone survey of 1000 American Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from October 7-8, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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. 

81% of Adults Trust Their Doctor

Americans overwhelmingly trust their doctor.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults have a doctor that they see on a regular basis. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 5-6, 2013 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.

68% Say Government Not Tough Enough on Wall Street Crime

Several employees of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff are going on trial this week for their part in orchestrating one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history, but many Americans still believe others in the financial industry are getting away with too much.

Just 14% of American Adults believe the federal government has been aggressive enough in pursuing possible criminal behavior on Wall Street, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-eight percent (68%) don’t think the federal government has been aggressive enough in this area. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 7-8, 2013 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.

28% Think Doctors Are Paid Too Much

Most Americans recognize the importance of the medical profession, but nearly three-out-of-10 think doctors make too much money.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think being a doctor is one of the most important jobs in the country today. Thirty percent (30%) disagree. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 5-6, 2013 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.

62% Think U.S. Likely To Default on Debt

Americans are more fearful of another economic meltdown these days, and belief that the U.S. government will default on its debt has jumped from six months ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American adults now think it is at least somewhat likely that the United States soon will face another financial industry meltdown similar to the 2008 crisis, with 35% who say it is Very Likely. In April, 59% felt another meltdown is likely in the near future, including 26% who said it is Very Likely.

Twenty-two percent (22%) believe another meltdown is unlikely anytime soon, but that includes only two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 7-8, 2013 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.

66% of Workers Consider Themselves Middle Class

Many working Americans expect to earn more money a year from now, and most continue to consider themselves middle class.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Working Americans believe their earnings will be higher a year from today, up from 39% in August and the highest level of optimism since the beginning of the year. Thirteen percent (13%) expect to earn less in a year's time, while 39% believe their earnings will be about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 678 Employed Adults was conducted on October 1-2, 2013 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 Working Somewhere Else Offers Better Career Opportunities

American workers are evenly divided over whether their current employer offers them the best chance for advancement, but most are staying put for now. One-in-four Employed Americans (24%) is looking for work outside his or her current company, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-two percent (72%) are not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 1-2, 2013 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.