Small business owners' economic confidence rose for the second straight month in August, climbing away from a 22-month low in June as their concerns about the state of the overall economy improved.
Eighty-five percent (85%) of adults are at least somewhat concerned about inflation these days, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
The majority of voters nationwide (62%) believe individuals should pay Social Security taxes on most or all of their incomes. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 25% of voters disagree.
The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor was virtually flat in July, rising just one-tenth of a point to 86.1, as a rise in economic confidence among consumers during the last week of July kept the Monitor from falling to a new low.
Workers’ confidence in the labor markets stabilized in July after falling to a record low in June. The Rasmussen Employment Index moved up a point to 79.5 in July from 78.6 the month before.
After sinking to its lowest level in June, economic confidence among small business owners rebounded in July, as the number of those who said they are experiencing cash flow issues decreased significantly and general economic confidence began trending upward.
The vast majority of Americans share the concern of senior Federal Reserve Board officials that inflation is a very real threat in the year ahead, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national survey.
Nearly seven out of 10 Americans (68%) are confident in the stability of the U.S. banking system, even as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says more banks in this country are likely to fail.
Only 34% of Americans believe the United States has the world’s best economy, but 50% believe the media makes economic conditions appear worse than they really are, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Americans overwhelmingly view the steady rise in oil and gas prices as the most serious problem facing the economy, and little more than a third of them think those prices are likely to be brought under control in the next few years.
Americans are cutting their spending and savings habits, but they are not yet resorting to additional debt to get through tough financial times. The new COUNTRY Financial survey shows most people are stopping short of tapping into credit and existing savings to make ends meet, despite the fact that nearly three in four Americans (73 percent) think their financial security will not improve this year.
Americans workers may feel a bit frustrated and unsettled these days with the state of the economy, but they still overwhelmingly rate the place they work as largely anger-free.
The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor fell nearly a point in June to 85.9, as consumers struggled with rising prices for essentials and continued to lose confidence in the nation’s economy. Economic confidence hit a new Monitor low, falling in June to a level that is nearly 30 points lower than a year ago.
Nearly three out of five Americans (58%) say cutting government spending is more important than balancing the budget, and 43% think such spending cuts will help the struggling U.S. economy.
As the Senate inches toward passage of a $300 billion bill to help homeowners facing foreclosure, a new Rasmussen Reports national survey shows that only 21% of voters think the federal government should provide such assistance.
Seven out of 10 Americans (70%) think a balanced budget is good for the economy, but nearly as many (64%) believe it unlikely that John McCain can achieve such a budget by 2013 as he has promised.
Voters continue to believe that tax cuts are good for the economy and tax hikes are bad, but for many that’s not the most important aspect of tax policy.
Just days after Microsoft creator Bill Gates spent his final day at the corporation he co-founded, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 68% of adults have a favorable opinion of the multi-billionaire. Just 17% of adults have an unfavorable opinion of Gates.
Most Americans do not believe the U.S. government needs more tax revenue and well over half say all tax increases should be subject to voter approval. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 52% of voters say the federal government does not need additional tax revenue for important national programs such as highway repairs and health care reform.
Voters overwhelmingly believe that lowering gas prices is the best way to get the U.S. economy going again, even as Congress and the presidential candidates argue for tax cuts or passage of a second government stimulus plan.
