Lifestyle

49ers Are Still Fan Favorites to Win Super Bowl

At the start of the National Football League season, the San Francisco 49ers were the fan favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII.  As the playoffs approach, fans still give the ‘Niners the edge to win it all, but it's close. 

Seventeen percent (17%) of Pro Football Fans believe the 49ers will win the Super Bowl, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  That’s up slightly from 15% who felt that way in October. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.

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.

This survey of 600 Professional Football Fans was conducted on November 27, 2012 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.

57% Have A Favorable Opinion of Hostess Twinkies

Most Americans like Hostess Twinkies and are following the news about the company that makes them. They tend to blame a recalcitrant labor union for putting that company out of business.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 69% of American Adults, in fact, are following recent news reports about the Hostess baking company, including 31% who are following Very Closely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.

(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 November 27-28, 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.

64% Will Decorate Their Home for the Holidays

Most Americans plan to decorate their homes again this holiday season, but the majority still haven’t started yet.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of American Adults say they will decorate this year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That finding that has shown little change over the past few years.  Thirty percent (30%) will not decorate this holiday season.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 25-26, 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.

68% Prefer 'Merry Christmas' Over 'Happy Holidays'

Most Americans still prefer signs in stores that say “Merry Christmas” rather than ones with “Happy Holidays.”

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American Adults prefer Merry Christmas. Just 23% like Happy Holidays instead. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 

(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 November 11-12, 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.

47% Have Started Their Holiday Shopping

It looks like the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales may have pushed Americans into being a little more generous in their gift giving this year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American Adults have now started their holiday shopping. Fifty percent (50%) still have not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 

(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 November 25-26, 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.

Only 16% Think Today’s Children Will Be Better Off Than Their Parents

Views about the future for America's children and about economic opportunity in this country are hovering near all-time lows.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 16% of American Adults believe today’s children will be better off than their parents, the standard past generations have set as their goal. Sixty-five percent (65%) don’t think that goal will be reached. Nineteen percent (19%) 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 2,000 Adults was conducted on November 15-16 and 19, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

15% of America Is Shopping Today, 11% Are Already Done

The holiday shopping season keeps starting earlier and earlier.

This year, 11% of Americans had finished the gift-buying before Black Friday, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s up from seven percent (7%) who finished shopping early a year ago. The day after Thanksgiving is often considered the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge  this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.

(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. 

This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 20, 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.

18% Plan To Travel This Holiday Weekend

The Thanksgiving weekend is one of the biggest travel times of the year, but for most Americans, it’s still a stay-at-home holiday.

Nearly one-out-of-five Adults (18%) are planning to travel away from home this Thanksgiving, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-seven percent (77%) are definitely not traveling, but five percent (5%) still haven’t made up their minds. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge  this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.

(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. 

This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 20, 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.

51% Regard Thanksgiving As One of Most Important Holidays

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans now consider Thanksgiving to be one of the nation’s most important holidays, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.

As it has for years, Thanksgiving ranks just below Christmas and the Fourth of July in terms of top holidays. It rates above Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Easter. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge  this week. The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27.

(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. 

This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 11-12, 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.

46% Will Have Thanksgiving Dinner At Home

This Thanksgiving, it’s all about family, turkey and football.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults will be celebrating Thanksgiving at home, while 41% will spend the holiday at a relative’s house, up from last year. Eight percent (8%) will have Thanksgiving dinner at either a friend’s home or a restaurant, and four percent (4%) aren’t having Thanksgiving dinner at all. (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 two surveys of 1,000 Adults nationwide each were conducted on November 11-12 and November 20, 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.

Americans Feel A Bit More Generous This Holiday Season

Americans plan to be a little less tight with their money this gift-giving season.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults say they will spend less on gifts than they did last year.  But that's down from 62% this time last year, 58% in 2010 and 71% in 2009.

Still, only 13% of Americans plan to spend more on gifts, up just slightly from last year. Thirty-one percent (31%) will spend about the same amount, but that's up eight points from 23% a year ago.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

(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 November 13-14, 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.

7% Have Already Finished Their Holiday Shopping

There is still a week to go before the Black Friday shopping rush, but for seven percent (7%) of Americans, their holiday shopping’s already all done.

Nearly one-third of American Adults (32%) have started their holiday shopping, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But 65% have not yet begun to shop. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

(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 November 13-14, 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.

46% Say Drunk Driving Laws Not Tough Enough

A sizable number of Americans still don't believe drunk driving laws are tough enough, but adults in this country are narrowly divided over how sentences for those crimes should be determined.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Americans believe current drunk driving laws are not tough enough, but 39% think they are about right. Only nine percent (9%) feel those laws are too tough. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week's Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 9-10, 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.

7% Think U.S. Is Winning War on Drugs

Americans overwhelmingly believe the war on drugs is a failure, but there’s little support for spending more on it to win.

Only seven percent (7%) of American Adults think the United States is winning the war on drugs, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Eighty-two percent (82%) say the country is not winning the fight against illegal drugs. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 

(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 November 9-10, 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.

45% Think Marijuana Should be Legalized, 45% Disagree

Colorado and Washington state legalized recreational marijuana use last Tuesday, and several other states have legalized medical marijuana use. But, nationwide, Americans are still divided on whether or not to legalize it. 

Forty-five percent (45%) of American adults say marijuana should be legalized, but just as many (45%) say no, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Ten percent (10%) are not sure whether it should be legal. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 9-10, 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.

16% View Online Dating Sites Favorably

Few Americans have a favorable opinion of online dating services like eHarmony or match.com.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just nine percent (9%) say they’ve used an online dating service. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

(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 nationwide was conducted on October 28-29, 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.

53% Intend To Get Flu Shot This Year

More Americans plan on getting a flu shot this year, perhaps because more feel it's effective in preventing flu outbreaks.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults say they intend to get a flu shot this year, while 40% do not. Seven percent (7%) haven't decided yet. (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 October 28-29, 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.

Only 43% Think Halloween Is Just for Kids

Tonight’s the night for ghouls and goblins again.

More Americans are dressing up for Halloween (22%) and decorating their houses for the holiday (37%) than a year ago, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Adults under 40 are much more likely to dress up and decorate than their elders.

(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 October 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.

76% Say U.S. Society is Ruder, Less Civilized

Most Americans continue to feel their fellow citizens are becoming ruder and less civilized, and half say they have actually confronted someone over their behavior.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults think their fellow Americans are becoming ruder and less civilized. Just 11% think Americans are becoming kinder and gentler, but 13% are not sure. This is consistent with findings in surveys since September 2009. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard. 

(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 October 24-25, 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.

52% Say It’s Too Easy To Get Food Stamps in U.S.

More than half of Americans now believe it’s too easy to acquire food stamps, and adults now are more likely to blame the government for making it easier to be a food stamp recipient.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 52% believe it’s too easy for people to get food stamps in this country today. Just 11% think it’s too hard. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say the current level of difficulty for food stamp eligibility is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

How are you doing in the Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.

(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 October 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.