Americans are more likely to say protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth. Since 2009, during the economic downturn, Americans generally prioritized economic growth over the environment, except for immediately after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in […] Read more »
5 key insights into the midterm elections, courtesy of Mitt Romney’s pollster
In a new episode of Political Wire’s podcast, we spoke to GOP polling guru Neil Newhouse, co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies and Mitt Romney’s one-time campaign pollster, about what recent polling data portends for the 2014 midterms and beyond. Here are five takeaways from our conversation: CONT. Taegan D. Goddard, […] Read more »
Slight Increase in U.S. Economic Confidence
Gallup’s U.S. Economic Confidence Index improved to -18 for the week ending March 16, after falling to -20 the prior week. Last week’s index is comparable to several so far in 2014, and represents a continuation of Americans’ negative economic outlook. CONT. Rebecca Riffkin, Gallup Read more »
Resurgent public optimism on the economy? Don’t hold your breath
One of the biggest political puzzles of 2014 is why the public remains so bearish about the economy, and in turn critical of Barack Obama’s stewardship of it, given clear signs that economic indicators are improving. As the new year began, the Associated Press summed up the optimistic outlook of […] Read more »
Consumer Comfort in U.S. Rises to Second-Highest Since August
Consumer confidence rose last week to the second-highest level since August as Americans grew more upbeat about the economy and buying climate. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index climbed to minus 27.6 in the period that ended March 9 from minus 28.5 the prior week. The advance was the fifth straight […] Read more »
Americans Cite Jobs, Economy, Gov’t as Top U.S. Problems
Three issues — unemployment, the economy in general, and dissatisfaction with government — dominate when Americans name the most important problem facing the nation. Nineteen percent mention unemployment or jobs, 18% say dissatisfaction with government, and 17% the economy in general. Unemployment edged out the other two issues in February, […] Read more »