83% Are Worried About Inflation
Most Americans remain concerned about inflation and lack confidence in the Federal Reserve Board to keep it under control.
Most Americans remain concerned about inflation and lack confidence in the Federal Reserve Board to keep it under control.
Confidence in America’s banking system has rebounded slightly from last month’s record low, but less than half of adults nationwide remain assured in the stability of the industry.
The number of working Americans who classify themselves as poor has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years, while the number of middle class workers ties the all-time high.
A sizable majority still favors across-the-board spending cuts in the federal budget, but voters remain slightly less enthusiastic about including the military in those cuts.
A plurality of American workers is still confident their next job will be better than their current one, but most aren’t searching for other work.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of Republicans nationwide say the U.S. economy is in poor shape and 68% of those not affiliated with either major party agree. However, data from the Rasmussen Consumer Index shows that Democrats aren’t quite as pessimistic. Just 49% of those in President Obama’s party is in poor shape.
Most Americans continue to believe today’s children will not be better off than their parents, but they are a bit more optimistic about the possibility of someone working their way out of poverty.
Americans are more pessimistic than ever that the U.S. economy will improve during the next year.
A majority of voters nationwide like the idea of state governments offering jobs instead of welfare payments to those seeking work.
Fewer adults nationwide say they’re paying more to fill up their gas tanks compared to six months ago, though a strong majority still expects to be paying more in the near future.
The Rasmussen Employment Index, which measures workers’ perceptions of the labor market each month, slipped a point in August to the lowest level measured in one year.
Most Americans think businesses should focus on the greater good of their fellow citizens, not just those on the inside.
Americans tend to think U.S. corporations aren't taxed enough, but most favor lowering the tax rates on corporations in exchange for limiting their deductions.
While recent housing numbers have been bleak, the number of homeowners who report their home is currently worth more than the amount they still owe on their mortgage is at its highest level since January.
Perceptions of home values among homeowners has improved little over the past month, though more than half still believe their home is worth more than when they bought it.
More Americans than ever predict they will be paying higher interest rates a year from now, despite the fact that most say they’re paying about the same in interest as they were last year.
On the heels of the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating, unhappiness with the debt ceiling debates and more unemployment and housing woes, more voters than ever worry that the federal government will not do enough to help the economy.
Americans' ongoing uneasiness about their finances is putting some cracks in how they feel about their retirement nest eggs. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index® dropped one point to 63.7 in June, in part because confidence in retirement reached an all-time low.
Small businesses are seen by many as the heart of the U.S. economy, and most voters think the best way the government can help them is by staying out of the way.
Americans still overwhelmingly believe that those employed in the private sector work harder than government workers but receive less compensation and have less job security.