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26% Owe More Money Than Last Year

One-in-four American Adults (26%) now owe more money than they did a year ago, and few predict interest rates will go down in the near future.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% owe less, while 39% owe about the same amount they did last year. This remains generally unchanged from previous surveys. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The Rasmussen Challenge is coming back next week. Stay Tuned!

(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 8-9, 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.

Most Voters Think U.S. Economy Fair to Women, Blacks, Hispanics

While voters have mixed views on the overall fairness of the U.S. economy, most believe it is fair to women, blacks and Hispanic Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of Likely Voters say the U.S. economy is at least somewhat fair to women, although that includes just 15% think it’s Very Fair.  Thirty-one percent (31%) say the economy is not fair to women, with six percent (6%) who say it’s Not At All Fair.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The Rasmussen Challenge is coming back next week. Stay Tuned!

(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 Likely Voters was conducted on January 7-8, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

68% Say Cutting Government Spending Solution To Economic Problems

Just under half of U.S. voters fear the federal government will not do enough to help the nation’s troubled economy, but those voters do not think more spending is the solution. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely Voters say, in reacting to the nation’s current economic problems, what worries them more is that the federal government will not do enough.  That finding is just below a high of 50% measured last month.  Thirty-nine percent (39%) are afraid the government will do too much, while 13% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The Rasmussen Challenge is coming back next week.  Stay Tuned!

(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 Likely Voters was conducted on January 9-10, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork 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

Americans continue to see their grocery bills go up and don’t expect that to change over the next year. Most also lack confidence that the Federal Reserve Board can keep inflation under control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 86% of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries than they were a year ago, and 72% expect that to go up even more over the next year. Only three percent (3%) think they will pay less in a year’s time. Twenty-one percent (21%) expect to be spending about the same amount. (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 8-9, 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.

75% Think Debt Ceiling Deal Is Likely

The U.S. government will reach its current $16.4 trillion debt ceiling some time next month, but despite the current political posturing most voters think a deal to raise that ceiling is likely.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that the debt ceiling will be raised before the government begins to default on its debts. Just 13% feel that's unlikely. This includes 42% who think the debt ceiling is Very Likely to be raised and four percent (4%) who say it's Not At All Likely. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

As noted in Scott Rasmussen's book, The People's Money, the actual debt of the federal government is much higher than $16 trillion. However, the formal borrowing of $16.4 trillion is the only portion of the debt requiring Congressional action to increase.

The Rasmussen Challenge is coming back next week.  Stay Tuned!

(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 Likely Voters was conducted on January 9-10, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

52% Are Confident in Stability of U.S. Banking Industry

Confidence in the banking industry has rebounded slightly and is back to levels seen last fall. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults are now at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, including nine percent (9%) who are Very Confident. Forty-five percent (45%) still lack that confidence, with eight percent (8%) who are Not At All Confident.

43% Think Auto Bailouts Good for America, 41% Disagree

Confidence in the auto bailouts is down to its lowest level in several months.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 43% of Likely U.S. Voters now say the bailouts of the auto industry were good for the United States, down nine points from 52% in December.  Nearly as many (41%) say the bailouts were bad for the country. That's up 15 points from last month and the highest finding since August. Sixteen percent (16%) 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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 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.

11% Are Very Likely To Buy or Lease A Car This Year

Looks like Americans aren’t in any more of a new car mood than they were last year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 28% of American Adults think they are at least somewhat likely to buy or lease a car in the next year. Seventy-one percent (71%) say they aren’t likely to be in the market for a car this year. This includes just 11% who are Very Likely to buy or lease a car and 36% who are Not At All Likely to do so. (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 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.

Ford Remains Most Popular ‘Big Three’ Automaker

Chrysler Group finished 2012 with the automaker’s best sales since 2007, but it remains the least liked of Detroit’s Big Three. However, like most issues, opinions of the automakers differ according to partisan affiliation.

Ford, the one automaker who didn't take a federal bailout, remains the most popular. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 73% of American Adults have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Ford, including 30% who view the automaker Very Favorably. Eighteen percent (18%) view Ford unfavorably, but that includes just five percent (5%) with a Very Unfavorable opinion. (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 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.

69% Now Describe Themselves as Middle Class

The number of working Americans who now consider themselves middle class is at its highest level in nearly four years, while the number of working poor has fallen to an all-time low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of Employed Adults now describe themselves as middle class, while an additional 19% think of themselves as upper middle class. Only three percent (3%) consider themselves wealthy, and eight percent (8%) regard themselves as the working poor. (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 630 Employed Adults was conducted on January 2-3, 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.

20% Are Looking For Job Outside Current Company

Despite the continuing high unemployment rate, one-in-five employed Americans are now looking for work outside of their current company, even though a plurality says that staying with their present employer offers better opportunity for advancement.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 20% of Employed Adults are looking for work somewhere else, while 75% are not. Forty-seven percent (47%), though, say staying with their current company offers better opportunity for advancement than going to work elsewhere. Thirty percent (30%) disagree, and 23% 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 630 Employed Adults was conducted on January 2-3, 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.

Public Evenly Divided on Fiscal Cliff Deal

Voters are evenly divided in their views of the last-minute “fiscal cliff” deal reached by President Obama and Congress, but very few expect government spending to go down as a result. One-out-of-two predict taxes on the middle class will go up though.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of the deal, while 46% also disapprove. But the nays feel more strongly: These findings include just eight percent (8%) who Strongly Approve of the deal versus 25% who Strongly Disapprove. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 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.

54% Say It’s Possible To Find Work These Days

At a time when the Rasmussen Employment Index is at its highest level since 2007, more Americans than ever believe that someone who wants to work can find a job. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults say it’s possible for anyone who really wants to work to find a job. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree, and 13% 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 was conducted on December 26-27, 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.

U.S. Economic Expectations Remain Stable

Despite uncertainty surrounding the "fiscal cliff" negotiations in Washington, expectations about the short- and long-term economy remain relatively unchanged from recent months.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 33% of American Adults believe the economy will be stronger a year from now. Slightly more (39%) think the economy will be weaker in a year’s time, while 19% say it will be about the same. (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 December 26-27, 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.

54% Favor 20% Cap on Income Tax If Deductions Are Ended

Most voters favor making the first $20,000 someone earns tax free and taxing income greater than $100,000 at a 20% rate in exchange for eliminating all their personal deductions.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of Likely U.S. Voters support a proposal that would make the first $20,000 of income earned by anyone tax free. Just 19% are opposed, while 13% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 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.

No ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal? 44% Blame GOP, 36% Obama

Most voters still want President Obama and Congress to avoid the “fiscal cliff” of big tax hikes and automatic across-the-board spending cuts scheduled to kick in next Tuesday, but fewer than ever think a deal is likely. Voters tend to blame congressional Republicans more than the president for the impasse.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress and the president should stop the tax increase and spending cuts totaling more than $500 billion from going into effect on January 1. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 18% disagree, while 20% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 26, 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.

38% Favor More Regulation of U.S. Financial System

Support for more regulation of the U.S. financial system is at an all-time high, but a plurality of voters still thinks more competition is best for the markets.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 49% believe more competition and less regulation is better for the financial system than more regulation and less competition. But 38% now take the opposite view and think more regulation and less competition is the way to go. Another 13% 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 Likely Voters was conducted on December 20-21, 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 Expect 2013 Recession With Or Without 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal

Most voters nationwide expect a recession in 2013 regardless of whether a deal is reached to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff.” If a deal is reached and the December 31 fiscal cliff of big tax hikes and automatic across-the-board spending cuts is avoided, 54% of voters believe a recession is likely next year. If no deal is reached, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 70% think a recession is likely.

These figures include 26% who believe a recession is Very Likely with a deal and 42% who believe it is Very Likely without one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 20-21, 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.   

Just 52% Now Want to Avoid Going Over Fiscal Cliff

While the failure of House Speaker John Boehner's “Plan B” sent shudders through the stock market and Washington’s political elite, it had little impact on public expectations.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe it is at least somewhat likely that Congress and the president will reach a deal to avert the December 31 “fiscal cliff” of big tax increases and automatic across-the-board spending cuts. The survey was conducted on Thursday and Friday night, meaning that just over half the survey was conducted after Republicans failed to find the votes for their Plan B to raise taxes on millionaires only. There was no significant change in public expectations before or after the legislative debacle.

Additionally, public expectations have changed little since Election Day. The number who think a deal is likely has stayed consistently between 49% and 51% prior to the latest results. The consistency of public opinion stands in marked contrast to the roller coaster assessments coming from “sources” in Washington. Just 17% of voters nationwide think a fiscal cliff deal is Very Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The Rasmussen Challenge has a winner! 

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 20-21, 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.

21% Think Now Is A Good Time to Sell A House Where They Live

Twenty-one percent (21%) of American Adults think now is a good time for someone in their area to be selling a house, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That's up from 16% a month ago and the highest level of confidence in the local housing market recorded in regular surveys since April 2009.  Just nine percent (9%) were that upbeat a year ago.

Interestingly, homeowners are slightly less convinced than others that now is a good time to sell.

Sixty percent (60%) of all adults disagree and still think now is not a good time to sell. Nineteen percent (19%) aren't 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 nationwide was conducted on December 15-16, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports.  The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.