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

General Lifestyle

Most Recent Releases

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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.

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July 25, 2011

60% Say This Summer Has Been Hotter Than Recent Summers

Much of the country suffered a heat wave last week, with weather advisories and warnings to avoid the heat. Most Americans noticed.

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July 23, 2011

68% Say School Discipline Is Too Easy These Days

Most Americans think there's not enough discipline in public schools today and feel it's tougher for teachers to maintain control than it was when they were kids.

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July 21, 2011

56% Say Children Need To Spend More Time in School

With summer vacation in full swing, a majority of Americans now believe children need to spend more time in school.  However, they are against a 12-month school calendar.

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July 14, 2011

Vanilla, Chocolate Top List of Favorite Ice Cream Flavors

When it comes to frozen treats, Americans prefer to keep it simple.

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July 13, 2011

58% Believe Life Exists On Other Planets

Americans continue to believe life exists in outer space, but they are less sure whether a human will walk on Mars within a quarter of a century.

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July 12, 2011

50% Say Space Shuttle Program Worth What It Cost Taxpayers

With the last planned U.S. space shuttle currently circling the globe, Americans are slightly more supportive of the NASA program than they were a year-and-a-half ago.

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July 11, 2011

51% Say Children Today Have Worse Quality Of Life Than Those A Generation Ago

Half of Americans nationwide now believe that today’s children are worse off than those of the previous generation.

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July 6, 2011

83% Say Kids Spend Too Much Time On Electronic Devices

Americans continue to believe that young children are on their computers and other electronic devices too often and think parents should control how much time they spend doing so. But a sizable number of adults think time spent on computers is better than time spent in front of the television.

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July 5, 2011

67% Say States Should Be Able to Prohibit Sale of Violent Video Games to Children

The U.S. Supreme Court last week overturned a California law that made it illegal to rent or sell violent video games to children, but Americans strongly favor such laws.

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June 27, 2011

41% See Higher Crime Over Past Year, 84% Predict Economy Will Cause More

More adults than ever report that crime in their community has increased over the past year, and most think the continuing bad economy will cause the crime rate to rise even higher.

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June 23, 2011

Just 18% Think Graphic Warning Labels Will Reduce Smoking

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now requiring tobacco companies to attach gruesome warning labels to cigarette packs, but few Americans believe the labels will actually cut the number of smokers.

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June 19, 2011

49% Say Mother Was Most Influential Parent, 33% Name Father

Looking back, nearly half of American adults nationwide say mom influenced them more than dad when they were growing up.

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June 17, 2011

77% Say Two-Parent Home Very Important for Children

Americans almost universally agree that it’s better for children to grow up in a home with both their parents and feel strongly that such children have an edge over those whose parents are divorced.

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June 8, 2011

49% of Workers Plan To Use All Their Vacation Time This Year

Roughly half of America’s workers say they’ll use all their vacation time this year, and fewer are connecting with work on their off-time compared to a year ago.

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May 28, 2011

31% Say Bad Economy Has Brought Their Families Closer Together, 28% Say Opposite

Americans have mixed reactions when asked how the struggling economy is impacting their families.

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May 26, 2011

38% Plan to Take a Summer Vacation This Year

Summer may be just around the corner, but over half of Americans do not plan on taking any trips this season.

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May 25, 2011

85% of Americans View Their Marriages Positively

Americans overwhelmingly rate their marriages as good or excellent. Those most recently wed are the most enthusiastic.

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May 19, 2011

33% Say Internet Good for American Culture

Americans have mixed feelings about the Internet’s impact on the nation, but they appear less optimistic about it than they were several years ago.