If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

General Lifestyle

Most Recent Releases

October 7, 2011

11% Think Amanda Knox Is Guilty of Murder

Very few Americans believe Amanda Knox is guilty of murdering her flatmate in Italy four years ago, and a plurality feels the media played an important part in overturning her conviction.

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September 29, 2011

46% Plan To Get Flu Shot This Year, 48% Don't

Flu season is upon us again, but less than half of Americans nationwide plan to get a flu shot this year. Over a quarter of adults say they are less likely to get one because of the mildness of last year’s season.

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September 6, 2011

48% Give Positive Marks to Government Response to Irene

Hurricane Irene didn’t hit the East Coast of the United States nearly as hard as was initially projected, but Americans give the government and the media generally good marks for not taking any chances.

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September 4, 2011

72% Went to a Cookout This Summer

So what did Americans do this summer?

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August 29, 2011

69% Concerned About Economic Impact Of Hurricane Irene

While Hurricane Irene did less damage than originally predicted, Americans nationwide still are concerned about the hurricane’s impact on the struggling U.S. economy.

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August 29, 2011

81% Following Hurricane Irene, 63% Like News Coverage

Most Americans closely followed news about Hurricane Irene as it neared our shores and give good marks to the media coverage of threatening bad weather.

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August 28, 2011

35% Say They’re Overweight

While most Americans say they are not overweight now, over half admit to dieting at one point in their life.

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August 26, 2011

26% Say U.S. Public Schools Provide World-Class Education

While most adults agree with President Obama that a world-class education is the most important factor in the success of America’s children and status in the world, most don’t think U.S. public schools provide that level of education.

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August 21, 2011

71% Say Too Many People Get Welfare Who Shouldn't

Americans overwhelmingly believe that the bigger problem with the welfare system in the United States is that there are too many overqualified recipients rather than not enough. Most also think legal immigrants should have to wait at least three years before being eligible for welfare benefits.

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August 19, 2011

Many See Those in 'Poverty' As Not So Poor

A recent survey based on several government studies finds that many of those the federal government says are living in poverty have a decent place to live, adequate food on the table and two color TVs, among other amenities, and most Americans don't regard that as being poor.

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August 19, 2011

Voters Like Government Student Loans, Frown on Pell Grants That Don’t Have To be Repaid

Government student loans are another area under the congressional budget-cutting microscope. Most voters favor their continuation for poor and middle-income students but are decidedly less enthusiastic about outright government grants for schooling that don’t need to be repaid.

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August 16, 2011

75% Favor Big Cuts in Mail Delivery Rather Than Give More Money to Postal Service

Americans would rather see the U.S. Postal Service dramatically cut its workforce and reduce mail delivery to three or four days a week than have the government pour more money into the financially struggling agency.

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August 11, 2011

58% Favor Sales Tax Holidays for School Shopping

There are currently 17 states that offer a “sales tax holiday” – a brief suspension of sales taxes – to encourage back-to-school shopping.  Most Americans nationwide support this idea. 

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August 6, 2011

67% Say Economy Causing Family Stress

With the Rasmussen Consumer and Investor Indexes hovering near two-year lows and unemployment rates still in the nine percent (9%) range, it's perhaps no surprise to find that a majority of Americans say the economy is adding stress to their family.

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August 4, 2011

76% Say Americans Becoming More Rude, Less Civilized

Alice Cooper said it best:  “No more Mr. nice guy.”

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July 29, 2011

63% Say College Degree Still A Good Investment, Younger Adults Less Convinced

Americans still believe a college degree is a helpful tool in today’s economy, but they also continue to feel life experience is more valuable.

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July 28, 2011

71% Say Formal Education Key to Success in Life, Not Street Smarts

Most Americans continue to believe that what you learn inside the classroom is more valuable than what’s learned on the outside.

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July 27, 2011

53% Oppose Nutritional Information on Restaurant Menus

As part of the new health care law, restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets will be required to disclose nutritional information in their menus.  But most Americans would rather they not.

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July 26, 2011

47% Are Eating Out Less Often Than They Were Six Months Ago

Americans still prefer a home-cooked meal to one in a restaurant, and they’re eating out less than they were six months ago. 

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July 26, 2011

40% Favor Possible Sale of U.S. Postal Service to Lower the Deficit

The U.S. Postal Service has been struggling financially for some time, with Postmaster General Patrick Donohoe just today announcing the potential closings of nearly 3,700 offices nationwide. A growing number of Americans thinks now may be the time to sell the USPS to a private company.