Americans’ confidence in the U.S. economy has dropped sharply as the partial government shutdown caused by Congress’ inability to pass a spending bill has become reality. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index’s three-day rolling average stands at -34 for Oct. 1-3, down 14 points from Sept. 27-29, and the lowest such average […] Read more »
Consumer Comfort Retreats for First Time in a Month
Consumer confidence decreased for the first time in four weeks as Americans’ views of the economy deteriorated to the lowest level since May. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index fell in the week ended Sept. 29 to minus 29.4 from minus 28.1. [cont.] Ben Schenkel, Bloomberg Read more »
The Loss of U.S. Pre-eminence
… Today’s optimists are those who think the current partial government shutdown will allow the Republican Party to work out some internal issues — and actually make a showdown over the debt less likely. Perhaps the political base will be satisfied by a demonstration of dissatisfaction against carrying out the […] Read more »
Economic Confidence Dips During Budget Battle
As the fiscal battles in Washington intensified last month and the federal government inched closer to its first shutdown in 17 years, Americans’ confidence in the economy deteriorated. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index slid to -19 in September from -13 in August, the worst monthly average since -19 in September 2012. […] Read more »
More people express uncertainty in chance to achieve the American Dream
Four years into an economic recovery in which most of the benefits have flowed to the top earners, a majority believe that the American Dream is becoming markedly more elusive, according to the results of a Washington Post-Miller Center Poll exploring Americans’ changing definition of success and their confidence in […] Read more »
Obama pollster: On debt limit, GOP is delusional
A new Bloomberg poll finds that Americans think spending cuts should be attached to a debt ceiling hike by 61-28. This is being widely portrayed as proof the public sides with Republicans on the debt limit. … “They’re deluding themselves,” [Joel] Benenson told me, referring to Republicans. “They were held […] Read more »