The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® was relatively unchanged in July, following gains in each of the prior five months. The Index now stands at 129.1 (1985=100), up from 128.9 in June. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—rose from 159.6 to 160.3. […] Read more »
Support for Extending COVID-19 Economic Relief
As businesses continue to reopen nationwide, less than half of Americans express confidence in the economy. Forty-five percent say the economy is in good shape, while 54% think its condition is poor. Views are similar to what they were in June and in March. More than six months into his […] Read more »
Regression? Our progress on the pandemic is non-linear, but there’s still hope
Did you catch the CDC warning us that once again, we’re at a “pivotal point” in the pandemic? America has moved on from the pandemic. But, the pandemic has not moved on from America. Though we’ve come a long way on reopening, vaccination rates have stalled out, and cases are […] Read more »
On climate change, Republicans are open to some policy approaches, even as they assign the issue low priority
Climate change remains a low-priority issue for Americans who identify as Republican or lean toward the Republican Party. At the same time, Republicans express openness to certain policy proposals to deal with climate change. And there are differences in views within the GOP, with moderates and younger adults generally offering […] Read more »
Prices & the personal economy
Everybody “knows” two things about the economy: it’s (at least somewhat) important politically and it’s getting better. Take the first as a given, but the second needs greater exploration. … We think about solving economic problems primarily in terms of jobs. If people are economically ill at ease, Democrats search […] Read more »
Biden nets positive marks for handling pandemic, but vaccine resistance, Delta concern remains
Six months into President Biden’s administration, Americans are less apprehensive about the year than they were at the start of it. They think the battle against the pandemic is going somewhat well, though that’s tempered now by concern about the Delta variant. Most say their finances are okay, and most […] Read more »