Gallup Daily: “Poor” Economic Rating Now 42%

PRINCETON, NJ -- Negative consumer perceptions have eased slightly over the past few days, as 42% of Americans now say U.S. economic conditions are "poor," lower than the 46% seen last week in Gallup Poll Daily tracking. There has been less change, however, in Americans' economic outlook, as 85%, similar to the high of 87% last week, say the economy is getting worse. -- Lydia Saad

Survey Methods

For the Gallup Poll Daily tracking survey, Gallup is interviewing no fewer than 1,000 U.S. adults nationwide each day during 2008. The economic questions analyzed in this report are asked of a random half-sample of respondents. The results reported here are based on combined data from 1,480 interviews conducted May 2-4, 2008. For results based on this sample, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

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