GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- Satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States has dropped to a six-year low as Americans have become increasingly worried about the economy and the looming possibility of another war with Iraq.
The latest Gallup Poll update on the mood of America, conducted Feb. 3-6, shows that 40% of Americans now say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the United States. The last time satisfaction levels were as low was in October 1996, when 39% were satisfied.
| Satisfaction With the Way Things Are
Going in the United States Today |
 |
Americans' self-reported satisfaction with the way things are going has fluctuated fairly significantly in recent years. Satisfaction reached a peak in February 1999 at 71% (Gallup has been measuring satisfaction since 1979). The measure began dropping from that point, reaching 43% just before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Then, Americans' attitudes about a variety of factors, including overall satisfaction, began to rise. By December 2001, satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States had risen back to 70% (presidential job approval had also risen to levels in the 80%-plus range). These high levels of satisfaction reflected, at least in part, approval of the way in which the United States had struck back at terrorists in Afghanistan.
But 2002 brought a steady decline in the public's satisfaction. The January 2003 level of 42% marked a return to where things stood just before Sept. 11, 2001, and this month's figure of 40% is lower still. All told, satisfaction levels have dropped 30 points in just over a year's time (from December 2001 to February 2003).
| Satisfaction With the Way Things Are
Going in the United States 2002 - 2003 |
 |
As low as these readings are in comparison with recent high points, they are nowhere near the low points Gallup has measured over the last 24 years. In the summer of 1992, for example, only 14% of Americans said they were satisfied with the way things were going in the country. The record low on the measure, 12%, was recorded in the summer of 1979.
Indeed, responses on this measure over the last 24 years have ranged from a low point of 12% to the high point of 71%. Thus, current levels of satisfaction are roughly average.
Satisfaction is most strongly related to political orientation. Sixty-three percent of Republicans were satisfied with the way things are going in the Feb. 3-6 poll. That's almost three times the level of satisfaction of Democrats, only 23% of whom are satisfied. Additionally, men are slightly more satisfied than women, those making $50,000 a year or more are more satisfied than those making less, and satisfaction is higher in the South than in the other three regions of the country.
Most Important Problem
We ask Americans each month to name -- without prompting -- the "most important problem facing the country today." Here are the results from the Feb. 3-6 survey:
| Most Important Problem February 2003 |
 |
| Feb 3-6, 2003 |
Two major categories of concern top the list: the economy and foreign affairs. Fifty-five percent of Americans mention some aspect of war, terrorism, national security, or international issues as the nation's most important problem, while 46% mention some aspect of the economy.
There have been three important patterns in Gallup's monthly tracking of responses to this most important problem question over the last two years:
- The largest shift came just after Sept. 11, 2001. Almost no Americans mentioned terrorism as the nation's most important problem prior to the terrorist attacks; by the next month's survey, 46% of Americans said terrorism was the top problem. The importance of terrorism as measured by the responses to this top-of-mind question began to decline after that point, ultimately settling down to where it has been in the last several months, mentioned by only 10% of Americans. (The Feb. 3-6 survey was completed just before the latest announcement by the government that the security alert system was being raised to the "orange" level).
- Perceptions that the economy is the nation's top problem have been relatively high for about two years, particularly in the months leading up to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. In the Gallup survey conducted Sept. 7-10, 2001, 39% of Americans mentioned the economy as the nation's top problem. The percentage naming the economy fell some in the months after Sept. 11, overshadowed by concerns about terrorism. But in February and again in July of last year, 40% of Americans named the economy as the nation's top problem, increasing slightly to 41% in January of this year and then to 46% this month.
Economic concerns have been higher at times in the past than they are today. In 1991 and 1992, for example, well over half of Americans routinely mentioned some aspect of the economy as the nation's top problem, including 73% who did so in March 1991, immediately after the conclusion of the Persian Gulf War.
- There has been a major uptick in the salience of war/fear or war as the nation's top problem in recent months. Concerns about war began to show up in the responses to the most important problem question just after the terrorist attacks, but were generally below 10% through last summer. Then, beginning in September, concern about war began to rise, jumping significantly to 20% in December of last year, 31% in January of this year, and 35% this month.
Ratings of the National Economy
The latest measures of the public's rating of the national economy are not good. Just 22% of Americans rate economic conditions as excellent or good, while 53% rate them as fair and 25% as poor.
| Rating of Current Economic Conditions |
 |
These ratings have stabilized over the last month, but remain generally as negative as they have been at any point over the last nine years. The low point on this measure came soon after Gallup began asking it in 1992: a total of just 10% rated the economy as either excellent or good in late August and early September 1992. At that point, 53% of Americans rated the economy as "poor," 28 points higher than the current rating.
Americans also persist in saying the economy is getting worse, not better, by almost a 2-to-1 ratio.
| Economic Conditions Getting Better or Getting Worse? |
 |
Six in 10 Americans now say the economy is getting worse, while just 27% say it is getting better. Americans were even more pessimistic just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when 70% said the economy was getting worse, but that number dropped to only 35% when there was a burst of economic optimism in April last year. That optimism had dissipated by last summer, and in each of the monthly surveys we have conducted since September, half or more of Americans have said the economy is getting worse.
Survey Methods
These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,001 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Feb. 3-6, 2003. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects 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.
In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?
|
Satisfied |
Dis- |
No |
||||
|
% |
% |
% |
||||
|
2003 |
||||||
|
2003 Feb 3-6 |
40 |
58 |
2 |
|||
|
2003 Jan 13-16 |
42 |
56 |
2 |
|||
|
2002 |
||||||
|
2002 Dec 5-8 |
46 |
51 |
3 |
|||
|
2002 Nov 11-14 |
48 |
48 |
4 |
|||
|
2002 Oct 31-Nov 3 |
48 |
47 |
5 |
|||
|
2002 Oct 3-6 |
47 |
49 |
4 |
|||
|
2002 Sep 5-8 |
47 |
51 |
2 |
|||
|
2002 Aug 5-8 |
47 |
50 |
3 |
|||
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
48 |
49 |
3 |
|||
|
2002 Jul 22-24 |
49 |
47 |
4 |
|||
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
49 |
48 |
3 |
|||
|
2002 Jun 3-6 |
52 |
44 |
4 |
|||
|
2002 May 6-9 |
56 |
40 |
4 |
|||
|
2002 Apr 8-11 |
61 |
37 |
2 |
|||
|
2002 Mar 4-7 |
61 |
37 |
2 |
|||
|
2002 Feb 4-6 |
61 |
37 |
2 |
|||
|
2002 Jan 7-9 |
65 |
32 |
3 |
|||
|
2001 |
||||||
|
2001 Dec 6-9 |
70 |
28 |
2 |
|||
|
2001 Nov 8-11 |
65 |
33 |
2 |
|||
|
2001 Oct 11-14 |
67 |
29 |
4 |
|||
|
2001 Sep 14-15 |
61 |
36 |
3 |
|||
|
2001 Sep 7-10 |
43 |
55 |
2 |
|||
|
2001 Aug 16-19 |
48 |
49 |
3 |
|||
|
2001 Jul 19-22 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|||
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|||
|
2001 May 10-14 |
46 |
50 |
4 |
|||
|
2001 Apr 6-8 |
50 |
47 |
3 |
|||
|
2001 Mar 5-7 |
53 |
44 |
3 |
|||
|
2001 Feb 1-4 |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|||
|
2001 Jan 10-14 |
56 |
41 |
3 |
|||
|
2000 |
||||||
|
2000 Dec 2-4 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|||
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
58 |
41 |
1 |
|||
|
2000 Oct 6-9 |
62 |
36 |
2 |
|||
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
59 |
38 |
3 |
|||
|
2000 Aug 18-19 |
63 |
33 |
4 |
|||
|
2000 Jul 14-16 |
61 |
35 |
4 |
|||
|
2000 Jun 22-25 |
56 |
39 |
5 |
|||
|
2000 May 18-21 |
55 |
42 |
3 |
|||
|
2000 Apr 3-9 |
59 |
37 |
4 |
|||
|
2000 Feb 25-27 |
65 |
32 |
3 |
|||
|
2000 Jan 7-10 |
69 |
28 |
3 |
|||
|
Satisfied |
Dis- |
No |
||||
|
1999 |
||||||
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
52 |
45 |
3 |
|||
|
1999 Aug 24-26 |
62 |
35 |
3 |
|||
|
1999 Jun 11-13 |
55 |
42 |
3 |
|||
|
1999 May 23-24 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|||
|
1999 Apr 26-27 |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|||
|
1999 Apr 13-14 |
58 |
39 |
3 |
|||
|
1999 Feb 12-13 |
71 |
26 |
3 |
|||
|
1999 Jan 15-17 |
70 |
28 |
2 |
|||
|
1998 |
||||||
|
1998 Dec 28-29 |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|||
|
1998 Oct 29-Nov 1 |
60 |
34 |
6 |
|||
|
1998 Aug 21-23 |
63 |
34 |
3 |
|||
|
1998 Aug 10-12 |
60 |
36 |
4 |
|||
|
1998 May 8-10 |
59 |
36 |
5 |
|||
|
1998 Apr 17-19 |
58 |
38 |
4 |
|||
|
1998 Feb 20-22 |
64 |
32 |
4 |
|||
|
1998 Feb 13-15 |
59 |
37 |
4 |
|||
|
1998 Jan 30-Feb 1 |
63 |
35 |
2 |
|||
|
1997 |
||||||
|
1997 Dec 18-21 |
50 |
46 |
4 |
|||
|
1997 Aug 22-25 |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|||
|
1997 May 6-7 |
46 |
51 |
3 |
|||
|
1997 Jan 10-13 |
50 |
47 |
3 |
|||
|
1996 |
||||||
|
1996 Dec 9-11 |
43 |
55 |
2 |
|||
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
47 |
47 |
6 |
|||
|
1996 Oct 26-29 |
39 |
56 |
5 |
|||
|
1996 Aug 30-Sep 1 |
45 |
50 |
5 |
|||
|
1996 Aug 16-18 |
38 |
57 |
5 |
|||
|
1996 May 9-12 |
37 |
60 |
3 |
|||
|
1996 Mar 15-17 |
36 |
61 |
3 |
|||
|
1996 Mar 8-10 |
41 |
56 |
3 |
|||
|
1996 Jan 5-7 |
24 |
72 |
4 |
|||
|
1995 |
||||||
|
1995 Aug 11-14 |
33 |
64 |
3 |
|||
|
1995 Jul 7-9 |
32 |
65 |
3 |
|||
|
1995 Mar 27-29 |
30 |
66 |
4 |
|||
|
Satisfied |
Dis- |
No |
||||
|
% |
% |
% |
||||
|
1994 |
||||||
|
1994 Nov 28-29 |
29 |
67 |
4 |
|||
|
1994 Nov 2-6 |
30 |
66 |
4 |
|||
|
1994 Oct 22-25 |
31 |
66 |
3 |
|||
|
1994 Jul 15-17 |
33 |
65 |
2 |
|||
|
1994 May 20-22 |
33 |
64 |
3 |
|||
|
1994 Apr 22-24 |
32 |
65 |
3 |
|||
|
1994 Mar 25-27 |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|||
|
1994 Feb 26-28 |
36 |
61 |
3 |
|||
|
1994 Jan 15-17 |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|||
|
1993 |
||||||
|
1993 Dec 4-6 |
34 |
63 |
3 |
|||
|
1993 Nov 2-4 |
27 |
70 |
3 |
|||
|
1993 May 21-23 |
24 |
73 |
3 |
|||
|
1993 Feb 12-14 |
25 |
71 |
4 |
|||
|
1993 Jan 8-11 |
29 |
68 |
3 |
|||
|
1992 |
||||||
|
1992 Nov 11-12 |
26 |
68 |
6 |
|||
|
1992 Aug 28-Sep 2 ‡ |
22 |
73 |
5 |
|||
|
1992 Jul 31-Aug 2 |
17 |
80 |
3 |
|||
|
1992 Jun 12-14 |
14 |
84 |
2 |
|||
|
1992 May 7-10 |
20 |
77 |
3 |
|||
|
1992 Apr 20-22 ^ |
19 |
80 |
1 |
|||
|
1992 Mar 20-22 |
19 |
80 |
1 |
|||
|
1992 Feb 28-Mar 1 |
21 |
78 |
1 |
|||
|
1992 Jan 31-Feb 2 ^ |
24 |
75 |
1 |
|||
|
1992 Jan 3-6 ^ |
24 |
74 |
2 |
|||
|
Satisfied |
Dis- |
No |
||||
|
% |
% |
% |
||||
|
1991 |
||||||
|
1991 Dec 5-8 |
37 |
60 |
3 |
|||
|
1991 Oct 31-Nov 2 |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|||
|
1991 Oct 10-13 |
39 |
57 |
4 |
|||
|
1991 Aug 23-25 |
49 |
45 |
6 |
|||
|
1991 Jul 11-14 |
43 |
50 |
7 |
|||
|
1991 May 23-26 |
49 |
49 |
2 |
|||
|
1991 Mar 21-24 |
52 |
43 |
5 |
|||
|
1991 Feb 28-Mar 3 |
66 |
31 |
3 |
|||
|
1991 Feb 14-17 |
54 |
40 |
6 |
|||
|
1991 Jan 17-21 |
62 |
33 |
5 |
|||
|
1991 Jan 3-6 |
32 |
61 |
7 |
|||
|
1990 |
||||||
|
1990 Dec 13-16 |
33 |
64 |
3 |
|||
|
1990 Nov 1-4 |
32 |
64 |
4 |
|||
|
1990 Oct 25-28 |
31 |
66 |
3 |
|||
|
1990 Oct 11-14 |
29 |
67 |
4 |
|||
|
1990 Sep 27-30 |
37 |
58 |
5 |
|||
|
1990 Aug 30-Sep 2 |
51 |
44 |
5 |
|||
|
1990 Aug 9-12 |
43 |
51 |
6 |
|||
|
1990 Jul 19-22 |
45 |
51 |
4 |
|||
|
1990 Feb 8-11 |
55 |
39 |
6 |
|||
|
1989 |
||||||
|
1989 May 4-7 |
44 |
50 |
6 |
|||
|
1989 Feb |
45 |
50 |
5 |
|||
|
1988 |
||||||
|
1988 Sep 25-Oct 1 |
56 |
40 |
4 |
|||
|
1988 May 13-15 |
41 |
54 |
5 |
|||
|
1987 |
||||||
|
1987 Aug 24-Sep 2 |
45 |
49 |
6 |
|||
|
1986 |
||||||
|
1986 Dec 4-5 † |
47 |
49 |
4 |
|||
|
1986 Sep 3-17 |
58 |
38 |
4 |
|||
|
1986 Jun 9-16 |
69 |
26 |
5 |
|||
|
1986 Mar 7-10 |
66 |
30 |
4 |
|||
|
1985 |
||||||
|
1985 Nov 11-18 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|||
|
1984 |
||||||
|
1984 Dec |
52 |
40 |
8 |
|||
|
1984 Sep 28-Oct 1 |
48 |
45 |
7 |
|||
|
1984 Feb 10-13 |
50 |
46 |
4 |
|||
|
1983 |
||||||
|
1983 Aug 5-8 |
35 |
59 |
6 |
|||
|
1982 |
||||||
|
1982 Nov 5-8 |
24 |
72 |
4 |
|||
|
1982 Sep 17-20 |
24 |
72 |
4 |
|||
|
1982 Apr 2-5 |
25 |
71 |
4 |
|||
|
1981 |
||||||
|
1981 Dec 11-14 |
27 |
67 |
6 |
|||
|
1981 Jun 5-8 |
33 |
61 |
6 |
|||
|
1981 Jan 9-12 |
17 |
78 |
5 |
|||
|
1979 |
||||||
|
1979 Nov 2-5 |
19 |
77 |
4 |
|||
|
1979 Jul 13-16 |
12 |
84 |
4 |
|||
|
1979 Feb 2-5 |
26 |
69 |
5 |
|||
|
^ Registered voters † Gallup/Newsweek ‡ Gallup/CNN/Knight-Ridder |
||||||
What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? [Open-ended]
|
Feb |
Jan |
Dec |
Nov |
||
|
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET) |
46 |
41 |
38 |
37 |
|
|
1 |
Economy in general |
34 |
26 |
30 |
28 |
|
2 |
Unemployment/jobs |
10 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
|
3 |
Federal budget deficit/federal debt |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
4 |
Taxes |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
5 |
High cost of living/inflation |
* |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
6 |
Corporate corruption |
* |
1 |
1 |
* |
|
7 |
Lack of money |
* |
-- |
-- |
* |
|
8 |
Wage issues |
* |
* |
* |
1 |
|
9 |
Recession |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
10 |
Gap between rich and poor |
* |
1 |
1 |
* |
|
Fuel/Oil Prices |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
NON-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET) |
70 |
73 |
74 |
73 |
|
|
1 |
Fear of war/feelings of fear in this country |
35 |
31 |
20 |
14 |
|
2 |
Terrorism |
10 |
10 |
18 |
19 |
|
3 |
International issues/problems |
7 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
|
4 |
Poor healthcare/hospitals; high cost of healthcare |
5 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
|
5 |
Ethics/Moral/Religious/Family decline; dishonesty; lack of integrity |
4 |
6 |
9 |
7 |
|
6 |
Education/poor education/access to education |
4 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
|
7 |
National security |
3 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
|
8 |
Poverty/ hunger/ homelessness |
3 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
|
9 |
Medicare/Social Security issues |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
10 |
Dissatisfaction with government/ Congress/ politicians/ candidates; Poor leadership; corruption |
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
11 |
Drugs |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
12 |
Crime/Violence |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
13 |
Immigration/Illegal aliens |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
14 |
Race relations/Racism |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
15 |
Care for the elderly |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
16 |
Space shuttle disaster/NASA |
1 |
|||
|
17 |
Foreign aid/focus overseas |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
18 |
Environment/Pollution |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
19 |
Children's behavior/way they are raised |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
20 |
Abortion |
1 |
* |
* |
1 |
|
21 |
Judicial system/courts/laws |
* |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
22 |
Unifying the country |
* |
* |
* |
1 |
|
23 |
Welfare |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
24 |
Child abuse |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
25 |
Overpopulation |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
26 |
The media |
* |
1 |
* |
* |
|
27 |
Lack of energy sources; the energy crisis |
* |
1 |
* |
1 |
|
Lack of military defense |
-- |
* |
* |
* |
|
|
Guns/Gun control |
-- |
-- |
* |
* |
|
|
AIDS |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Lack of respect for each other |
-- |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
School shootings/school violence |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Other non-economic |
1 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
|
|
No opinion |
5 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
|
|
Total |
143% |
142% |
147% |
141% |
|
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
How would you rate economic conditions in this country today -- as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
|
|
Good |
|
Poor |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2003 |
|||||
|
2003 Feb 3-6 |
2 |
20 |
53 |
25 |
* |
|
2003 Jan 20-22 |
1 |
19 |
49 |
31 |
* |
|
2003 Jan 13-16 |
2 |
20 |
50 |
28 |
* |
|
2002 |
|||||
|
2002 Dec 19-22 |
1 |
23 |
48 |
28 |
* |
|
2002 Dec 5-8 |
2 |
23 |
51 |
24 |
* |
|
2002 Nov 22-24 |
2 |
30 |
45 |
23 |
* |
|
2002 Oct 31-Nov 3 |
2 |
26 |
45 |
26 |
1 |
|
2002 Oct 3-6 |
2 |
24 |
46 |
27 |
1 |
|
2002 Sep 23-26 |
2 |
25 |
47 |
25 |
1 |
|
2002 Sep 5-8 |
2 |
22 |
53 |
23 |
* |
|
2002 Aug 19-21 |
1 |
23 |
47 |
28 |
1 |
|
2002 Aug 5-8 |
1 |
27 |
52 |
19 |
1 |
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
2 |
27 |
48 |
22 |
1 |
|
2002 Jul 22-24 |
2 |
25 |
48 |
24 |
1 |
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
2 |
26 |
51 |
20 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 17-19 |
2 |
35 |
43 |
19 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun 3-6 |
3 |
33 |
49 |
14 |
1 |
|
2002 May 20-22 |
3 |
38 |
46 |
12 |
1 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
2 |
33 |
51 |
14 |
* |
|
2002 Apr 22-24 |
2 |
37 |
46 |
14 |
1 |
|
2002 Apr 8-11 |
2 |
36 |
51 |
11 |
* |
|
2002 Mar 4-7 |
3 |
31 |
51 |
14 |
1 |
|
2002 Feb 4-6 |
2 |
26 |
55 |
16 |
1 |
|
2002 Jan 7-9 |
2 |
27 |
54 |
16 |
1 |
|
2001 |
|||||
|
2001 Dec 6-9 |
2 |
29 |
53 |
16 |
* |
|
2001 Nov 8-11 |
2 |
29 |
50 |
19 |
* |
|
2001 Oct 11-14 |
2 |
36 |
48 |
13 |
1 |
|
2001 Sep 14-15 |
3 |
43 |
44 |
9 |
1 |
|
2001 Sep 7-10 |
2 |
30 |
49 |
19 |
* |
|
2001 Aug 16-19 |
2 |
34 |
49 |
14 |
1 |
|
2001 Jul 19-22 |
3 |
38 |
47 |
11 |
1 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
3 |
39 |
45 |
12 |
1 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
3 |
37 |
45 |
15 |
* |
|
2001 Apr 6-8 |
4 |
41 |
41 |
14 |
* |
|
2001 Mar 5-7 |
3 |
43 |
43 |
10 |
1 |
|
2001 Feb 1-4 |
7 |
44 |
36 |
13 |
* |
|
2001 Jan 10-14 |
11 |
56 |
27 |
6 |
* |
|
2000 |
|||||
|
2000 Dec 2-4 |
12 |
51 |
28 |
8 |
1 |
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
19 |
53 |
21 |
7 |
* |
|
2000 Oct 6-9 |
14 |
57 |
24 |
4 |
1 |
|
2000 Aug 18-19 |
25 |
49 |
21 |
4 |
1 |
|
2000 Jul 25-26 |
26 |
48 |
21 |
4 |
1 |
|
2000 May 18-21 |
17 |
49 |
24 |
9 |
1 |
|
2000 Apr 3-9 |
14 |
46 |
30 |
9 |
1 |
|
2000 Jan 7-10 |
19 |
52 |
23 |
5 |
1 |
|
|
Good |
|
Poor |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
1999 |
|||||
|
1999 Oct 21-24 |
16 |
49 |
27 |
8 |
* |
|
1999 Sep 10-14 |
20 |
47 |
24 |
8 |
1 |
|
1999 Aug 24-26 |
14 |
50 |
28 |
7 |
1 |
|
1999 Jun 4-5 |
18 |
56 |
21 |
5 |
* |
|
1999 Jan 15-17 |
14 |
55 |
27 |
4 |
* |
|
1998 |
|||||
|
1998 Dec 4-6 |
13 |
52 |
27 |
8 |
* |
|
1998 Oct 29-Nov 1 |
13 |
53 |
27 |
6 |
1 |
|
1998 Sep 1 |
11 |
54 |
25 |
9 |
1 |
|
1998 Mar 20-22 |
20 |
46 |
27 |
7 |
* |
|
1997 |
|||||
|
1997 Dec 18-21 |
7 |
41 |
38 |
12 |
2 |
|
1997 Nov 6-9 |
10 |
48 |
33 |
9 |
* |
|
1997 Aug 22-25^ |
8 |
41 |
38 |
13 |
* |
|
1997 May 6-7 |
7 |
39 |
38 |
15 |
1 |
|
1997 Jan 31-Feb 2 |
4 |
38 |
43 |
15 |
* |
|
1996 |
|||||
|
1996 Oct 26-29 |
5 |
42 |
39 |
13 |
1 |
|
1996 Aug 30-Sep 1 † |
3 |
34 |
46 |
16 |
1 |
|
1996 Jul 18-21 |
5 |
38 |
43 |
14 |
* |
|
1996 May 9-12 |
3 |
27 |
50 |
19 |
1 |
|
1996 Apr 9-10 |
1 |
26 |
52 |
20 |
1 |
|
1996 Mar 15-17 |
2 |
31 |
48 |
18 |
1 |
|
1996 Jan 5-7 |
1 |
28 |
47 |
23 |
1 |
|
1995 |
|||||
|
1995 Nov 6-8 |
2 |
28 |
47 |
22 |
1 |
|
1995 May 11-14 |
2 |
27 |
50 |
20 |
1 |
|
1994 |
|||||
|
1994 Dec 16-18 |
2 |
25 |
52 |
21 |
* |
|
1994 Nov 2-6 |
2 |
28 |
49 |
20 |
1 |
|
1994 Oct 22-25 |
1 |
25 |
52 |
21 |
1 |
|
1994 Jul 15-17 |
1 |
26 |
52 |
21 |
* |
|
1994 Apr 22-24 |
1 |
23 |
49 |
26 |
1 |
|
1994 Jan 15-17 |
* |
22 |
54 |
24 |
* |
|
1993 |
|||||
|
1993 Dec 4-6 |
1 |
20 |
57 |
21 |
1 |
|
1993 Nov 2-4 |
1 |
16 |
50 |
33 |
* |
|
1993 Aug 8-10 |
* |
10 |
49 |
40 |
1 |
|
1993 Jun 29-30 |
1 |
14 |
52 |
32 |
1 |
|
1993 Feb 12-14 |
* |
14 |
46 |
39 |
1 |
|
1992 |
|||||
|
1992 Dec 18-20 |
2 |
16 |
34 |
47 |
1 |
|
1992 Dec 4-6 |
1 |
14 |
41 |
43 |
1 |
|
1992 Oct 23-25 |
* |
11 |
45 |
43 |
1 |
|
1992 Sep 11-15 |
1 |
10 |
37 |
51 |
1 |
|
1992 Aug 31-Sep 2 † |
1 |
9 |
37 |
53 |
* |
|
1992 Jun 12-14 † |
1 |
11 |
47 |
41 |
* |
|
1992 Apr 9-12 † |
1 |
11 |
40 |
48 |
* |
|
1992 Jan 3-6 |
* |
12 |
46 |
41 |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
^ Asked of half sample. |
|||||
|
† Asked of Registered Voters. |
|||||
Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?
|
Getting |
Getting |
SAME |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2003 |
||||
|
(NA) 2003 Feb 3-6 |
27 |
60 |
11 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2003 Jan 20-22 |
29 |
57 |
12 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2003 Jan 13-16 |
34 |
54 |
10 |
2 |
|
2002 |
||||
|
(NA) 2002 Dec 19-22 |
35 |
50 |
12 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 Dec 5-8 |
35 |
54 |
8 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 Nov 22-24 |
38 |
53 |
8 |
1 |
|
(NA) 2002 Oct 31-Nov 3 |
37 |
51 |
8 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2002 Oct 3-6 |
30 |
59 |
8 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 Sep 23-26 |
33 |
52 |
10 |
5 |
|
(NA) 2002 Sep 5-8 |
35 |
54 |
9 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2002 Aug 19-21 |
38 |
48 |
10 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2002 Aug 5-8 |
32 |
55 |
9 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2002 Jul 29-31 |
42 |
47 |
8 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 Jul 22-24 |
27 |
59 |
10 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2002 Jul 9-11 |
31 |
57 |
10 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2002 Jun 17-19 |
47 |
40 |
10 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 Jun 3-6 |
48 |
38 |
11 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 May 20-22 |
49 |
34 |
14 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 May 6-9 |
52 |
39 |
7 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2002 Apr 22-24 |
53 |
35 |
10 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2002 Apr 8-11 |
53 |
37 |
7 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2002 Mar 4-7 |
54 |
37 |
7 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2002 Feb 4-6 |
41 |
47 |
10 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2002 Jan 7-9 |
49 |
41 |
8 |
2 |
|
2001 |
||||
|
(NA) 2001 Dec 6-9 |
44 |
48 |
6 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2001 Nov 8-11 |
30 |
59 |
7 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2001 Oct 11-14 |
33 |
55 |
10 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2001 Sep 14-15 |
28 |
60 |
8 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2001 Sep 7-10 |
19 |
70 |
9 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2001 Aug 16-19 |
27 |
59 |
11 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2001 Jul 19-22 |
35 |
53 |
9 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2001 Jun 11-17 |
29 |
60 |
8 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2001 May 10-14 |
25 |
63 |
9 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2001 Apr 6-8 |
24 |
63 |
9 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2001 Mar 5-7 |
28 |
61 |
7 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2001 Feb 1-4 |
23 |
66 |
8 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2001 Jan 10-14 |
32 |
56 |
8 |
4 |
|
Getting |
Getting |
SAME |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2000 |
||||
|
(NA) 2000 Dec 2-4 |
39 |
48 |
8 |
5 |
|
(NA) 2000 Nov 13-15 |
50 |
38 |
9 |
3 |
|
(NA) 2000 Oct 6-9 |
54 |
34 |
10 |
2 |
|
(NA) 2000 Aug 18-19 |
60 |
26 |
10 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2000 Jul 25-26 |
58 |
29 |
9 |
4 |
|
(NA) 2000 May 18-21 |
52 |
37 |
9 |
2 |
|
1999 |
||||
|
(NA) 2000 Jan 7-10 |
69 |
23 |
6 |
2 |
|
(NA) 1999 Oct 21-24 |
52 |
34 |
11 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1999 Sep 10-14 |
59 |
29 |
9 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1999 Aug 24-26 |
54 |
31 |
12 |
3 |
|
1998 |
||||
|
(NA) 1999 Jun 4-5 |
60 |
27 |
9 |
4 |
|
(NA) 1999 Jan 15-17 |
63 |
28 |
6 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1998 Dec 4-6 |
52 |
38 |
8 |
2 |
|
(NA) 1998 Oct 29-Nov 1 |
51 |
38 |
8 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1998 Sep 1 |
45 |
41 |
11 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1997 Dec 18-21 |
49 |
39 |
8 |
4 |
|
(NA) 1997 Nov 6-9 |
51 |
37 |
9 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1997 May 6-7 |
50 |
40 |
7 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1997 Jan 31-Feb 2 |
46 |
39 |
12 |
3 |
|
1996 |
||||
|
(NA) 1996 Oct 26-29 |
50 |
38 |
7 |
5 |
|
(RV) 1996 Aug 30-Sep 1 |
52 |
37 |
8 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1996 Jul 18-21 |
43 |
46 |
9 |
2 |
|
(NA) 1996 May 9-12 |
39 |
49 |
9 |
3 |
|
1992 |
||||
|
(RV) 1992 Aug 31-Sep 2 |
29 |
59 |
10 |
2 |
|
(RV) 1992 Aug 10-12 |
24 |
65 |
10 |
1 |
|
(RV) 1992 Jun 12-14 |
28 |
61 |
9 |
2 |
|
(RV) 1992 Apr 9-12 |
40 |
45 |
13 |
2 |
|
(RV) 1992 Mar 20-22 |
37 |
51 |
11 |
1 |
|
(RV) 1992 Jan 31-Feb 1 |
22 |
70 |
7 |
1 |
|
(NA) 1992 Jan 3-6 |
22 |
71 |
6 |
1 |
|
1991 |
||||
|
(NA) 1991 Dec 5-8 |
19 |
69 |
9 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1991 Sep 5-8 |
27 |
60 |
10 |
3 |
|
(NA) 1991 Jul 11-14 |
34 |
51 |
9 |
6 |
|
(vol.) Volunteered response |
||||
|
(RV) Registered Voters |
||||
|
(NA) National Adults |
||||
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK GROUPS (COMBINED RESPONSES)
|
|
|
|
Undesig- |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2003 |
||||
|
2003 Feb 3-6 |
12 |
27 |
59 |
2 |
|
2003 Jan 20-22 |
13 |
26 |
59 |
2 |
|
2003 Jan 13-16 |
14 |
29 |
54 |
3 |
|
2002 |
||||
|
2002 Dec 19-22 |
17 |
26 |
54 |
3 |
|
2002 Dec 5-8 |
17 |
27 |
53 |
3 |
|
2002 Nov 22-24 |
22 |
29 |
48 |
1 |
|
2002 Oct 31-Nov 3 |
20 |
27 |
49 |
4 |
|
2002 Oct 3-6 |
16 |
25 |
55 |
4 |
|
2002 Sep 23-26 |
20 |
21 |
53 |
6 |
|
2002 Sep 5-8 |
16 |
29 |
53 |
2 |
|
2002 Aug 19-21 |
19 |
26 |
51 |
4 |
|
2002 Aug 5-8 |
16 |
30 |
50 |
4 |
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
22 |
30 |
45 |
3 |
|
2002 Jul 22-24 |
16 |
24 |
55 |
5 |
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
16 |
29 |
52 |
3 |
|
2002 Jun 17-19 |
30 |
27 |
40 |
3 |
|
2002 Jun 3-6 |
29 |
29 |
39 |
3 |
|
2002 May 20-22 |
33 |
28 |
36 |
3 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
28 |
32 |
37 |
3 |
|
2002 Apr 22-24 |
32 |
31 |
34 |
3 |
|
2002 Apr 8-11 |
30 |
32 |
35 |
3 |
|
2002 Mar 4-7 |
26 |
36 |
35 |
3 |
|
2002 Feb 4-6 |
19 |
31 |
47 |
3 |
|
2002 Jan 7-9 |
21 |
37 |
40 |
2 |
|
2001 |
||||
|
2001 Dec 6-9 |
20 |
35 |
42 |
3 |
|
2001 Nov 8-11 |
17 |
29 |
50 |
4 |
|
2001 Oct 11-14 |
21 |
33 |
43 |
3 |
|
2001 Sep 14-15 |
23 |
29 |
43 |
5 |
|
2001 Sep 7-10 |
15 |
24 |
59 |
2 |
|
2001 Aug 16-19 |
20 |
27 |
50 |
3 |
|
2001 Jul 19-22 |
25 |
29 |
42 |
4 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
22 |
28 |
45 |
5 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
20 |
28 |
49 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Undesig- |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2001 Apr 6-8 |
21 |
30 |
44 |
5 |
|
2001 Mar 5-7 |
22 |
33 |
41 |
4 |
|
2001 Feb 1-4 |
22 |
33 |
42 |
3 |
|
2000 |
||||
|
2001 Jan 10-14 |
30 |
40 |
26 |
4 |
|
2000 Dec 2-4 |
36 |
35 |
25 |
4 |
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
47 |
32 |
18 |
3 |
|
2000 Oct 6-9 |
51 |
28 |
18 |
3 |
|
2000 Aug 18-19 |
60 |
21 |
15 |
4 |
|
2000 Jul 25-26 |
57 |
23 |
16 |
4 |
|
2000 May 18-21 |
48 |
28 |
21 |
3 |
|
2000 Jan 7-10 |
61 |
21 |
15 |
3 |
|
1999 |
||||
|
1999 Oct 21-24 |
50 |
24 |
23 |
3 |
|
1999 Sep 10-14 |
55 |
22 |
19 |
4 |
|
1999 Aug 24-26 |
48 |
28 |
21 |
3 |
|
1999 Jun 4-5 |
59 |
20 |
17 |
4 |
|
1999 Jan 15-17 |
54 |
26 |
17 |
3 |
|
1998 |
||||
|
1998 Dec 4-6 |
47 |
28 |
23 |
2 |
|
1998 Oct 29-Nov 1 |
47 |
27 |
22 |
4 |
|
1998 Sep 1 |
45 |
27 |
24 |
4 |
|
1998 Mar 20-22 |
59 |
21 |
18 |
2 |
|
1997 |
||||
|
1997 Dec 18-21 |
36 |
28 |
31 |
5 |
|
1997 Nov 6-9 |
46 |
23 |
28 |
3 |
|
1997 May 6-7 |
38 |
23 |
36 |
3 |
|
1997 Jan 31-Feb 2 |
33 |
24 |
40 |
3 |
|
1996 |
||||
|
1996 Oct 26-29 |
37 |
25 |
33 |
5 |
|
1996 Aug 30-Sep 1 |
31 |
29 |
36 |
4 |
|
1996 July 18-21 |
32 |
25 |
40 |
3 |
|
1996 May 9-12 |
22 |
28 |
47 |
3 |
|
1992 |
||||
|
1992 Aug 31-Sep 2 |
7 |
25 |
66 |
2 |
|
1992 Jun 12-14 |
8 |
25 |
65 |
2 |
