Confidence among U.S. consumers increased for a third straight week as Americans grew more optimistic about the economy, finances and the buying climate. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort (COMFCOMF) Index advanced to minus 30.9 in the period ended Dec. 8, the best reading since the first week of October, from minus […] Read more »
Americans Cite Gov’t, Economy, Healthcare as Top Problems
Three issues — dissatisfaction with government, the economy, and healthcare — are the clear leaders when Americans name the most important problem facing the country. Beyond those, unemployment, the federal budget deficit, moral and ethical decline, and poverty are mentioned by at least 5% of Americans. CONT. Jeffrey M. Jones, […] Read more »
Public Sees Political Gridlock Hampering Economy
Americans see little prospect that President Barack Obama and Congress can get much done beyond keeping the government open for the next few months. A Bloomberg National Poll finds 78 percent of respondents say the political gridlock in Washington will hurt the nation’s economy in 2014. Large majorities say they […] Read more »
Obama Gets Little Credit for Economy From Most in Poll
President Barack Obama gets little credit from the public for economic progress under his watch as his job approval has plummeted to a new low of 42 percent in the Bloomberg National Poll. Americans by 50 percent to 45 percent say improvements in the unemployment rate would have happened regardless of […] Read more »
Can the economy rescue Obama from Obamacare?
The fate of President Obama’s second term is emerging as a battle between improving news about the economy and souring views of his signature health care law. A year-end USA TODAY/Pew Research Center Poll chronicles what a drag the Affordable Care Act has become on Obama’s reputation, helping to drive […] Read more »
Discontent with Congress, Obama high; most want their House member ousted
Heading into a congressional election year, Americans hold Congress in strikingly low regard, and nearly two-thirds say they would like to see their House member replaced, a new poll finds. Even though Americans are feeling somewhat better about the economy — and their personal finances — elected officials in Washington […] Read more »