Americans were more confident in the economy last week than in any week since Gallup began tracking economic confidence daily in 2008. The Gallup Economic Confidence Index rose to -5 last week from -11 the prior week. The current score exceeds the previous weekly high of -8 reached two weeks [...] Read more »
Americans Say Family of Four Needs Nearly $60K to ‘Get By’
The federal poverty threshold for a family of four is just under $24,000; however, Americans believe such a family unit living in their community needs more than double that — $58,000, on average — just to “get by.” That estimate reflects 29% of Americans saying these families need up to [...] Read more »
Consumers’ Outlooks on Economy Improve to Five-Month High
Consumers’ economic outlook improved in May to its best reading in five months, showing Americans are looking beyond the current slowdown to a rebound in growth later this year. The monthly Bloomberg consumer economic expectations gauge rose to minus 1 from minus 4 in April, a report today showed. The [...] Read more »
Economic Confidence Retreats From Five-Year High
Gallup’s U.S. Economic Confidence Index fell slightly to -11 last week after tying the five-year weekly high of -8 the prior week and registering improvement for three straight weeks. Still, the current reading is one of the highest weekly scores of the year. [cont.] Alyssa Brown, Gallup Read more »
Standard of Living Perceptions Hit Five-Year High
Gallup’s U.S. Standard of Living Index climbed to 40 in April, the highest monthly average in the five years Gallup has tracked this measure. The current score is up slightly from 38 in March and 35 in April of 2012. [cont.] Alyssa Brown, Gallup Read more »
Consumer Comfort in U.S. Last Week Stayed Near Five-Year High
Consumer sentiment last week hovered close to its highest level in more than five years, a sign the biggest part of the U.S. economy will keep expanding. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index fell to minus 29.5 in the week ended May 5 from minus 28.9 in the prior period, which was [...] Read more »
Confidence in the Economy Ties Record High
Gallup’s U.S. Economic Confidence Index was -8 last week, matching the five-year weekly high set the week ending Feb. 3. The current score is up from -13 the previous week. … The recovery in April to the levels seen in January and February suggests the impact of the sequester may [...] Read more »
Middle-Aged Americans Most Worried About Finances
Middle-aged Americans are more likely than those younger and older to worry about personal financial issues. Within this broad middle-aged category, those aged 50 to 64 are either as likely as or more likely than those aged 30 to 49 to worry about most financial problems. [cont.] Frank Newport & [...] Read more »
Americans’ Financial Worry Lowest Since Before Recession
Americans’ financial worry has eased to the lowest level since before the recession. Gallup classifies 53% of Americans as highly or moderately worried about their finances, down from a peak of 61% a year ago, and the lowest since 45% in 2007. … Retirement savings and paying medical costs in [...] Read more »
Political ideology affects energy-efficiency attitudes and choices
This research demonstrates how promoting the environment can negatively affect adoption of energy efficiency in the United States because of the political polarization surrounding environmental issues. Study 1 demonstrated that more politically conservative individuals were less in favor of investment in energy-efficient technology than were those who were more politically [...] Read more »