In the U.S., liberals and conservatives report markedly different levels of confidence in nearly every key institution Gallup measures, reflecting the general polarization that typifies the country today. The confidence gap — the difference between groups in levels of confidence for a particular institution — is largest for the presidency […] Read more »
Confidence in U.S. Banks Low but Rising
Seven years after the worst financial crisis in the U.S. since the Great Depression, the percentage of Americans expressing “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in banks remains low (28%), but this is higher than their 21% confidence in 2012. CONT. Andrew Dugan, Gallup Read more »
Confidence in U.S. Institutions Still Below Historical Norms
Americans’ confidence in most major U.S. institutions remains below the historical average for each one. Only the military (72%) and small business (67%) — the highest-rated institutions in this year’s poll — are currently rated higher than their historical norms, based on the percentage expressing “a great deal” or “quite […] Read more »
Most Say Government Policies Since Recession Have Done Little to Help Middle Class, Poor
The public makes sharp distinctions about which groups have benefited – and which have not – from the economic policies the government has put in place since the start of the recession. Majorities say that large banks, large corporations and the wealthy have been helped a great deal or a […] Read more »
Anxiety and Interest Rates: How Uncertainty Is Weighing on Us
Anxiety and uncertainty are weighing on individuals even where the overall economy is growing. Some of this angst is the fallout from advances in information technology. … Along with this enormous problem is the psychic cost of growing income inequality. Poor people, who see themselves slipping further and further behind, […] Read more »
Obama Job Rating Ticks Higher, Views of Nation’s Economy Turn More Positive
President Obama enters the seventh year of his presidency in a familiar position when compared with his recent predecessors. His 47% job approval rating places him squarely between George W. Bush (33%) and Bill Clinton (63%) at similar points in their second terms. Obama’s rating is comparable to Ronald Reagan’s […] Read more »