All Gallup Headlines http://www.gallup.com/ http://backend.userland.com/rss Gallup WebTeam Gallup Daily tracking from Nov. 17-19 shows President Barack Obama’s job approval slipping to 49% for the first time in his presidency. Among post-World War II presidents, only Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan dropped below the symbolic majority approval level faster than Obama did. http://www.gallup.com/poll/122627/Obama-Job-Approval-Down-49.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/122627/Obama-Job-Approval-Down-49.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT Many more Americans are heavier than their ideal weight (62%) or say they would like to lose weight (55%) than are seriously trying to lose weight at this time (27%). http://www.gallup.com/poll/124448/In-U.S.-More-Lose-Weight-Than-Trying-To.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124448/In-U.S.-More-Lose-Weight-Than-Trying-To.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Reflecting an often-overlooked aspect of today’s job crisis, one in six Americans now mention lack of money or low wages as the most important financial problem facing their families today -- tying a five-year high for the question and more than name healthcare, unemployment, or any other financial issue. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124442/Lack-Money-Wages-Top-Family-Financial-Problem.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124442/Lack-Money-Wages-Top-Family-Financial-Problem.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:00 GMT Substantially more Americans rate healthcare coverage in the country as excellent or good this year (38%) than did so a year ago (26%). Similarly, more Americans now say they are satisfied with the total cost of U.S. healthcare (26%) than said this a year ago (19%). http://www.gallup.com/poll/124415/Greater-Optimism-U.S.-Health-System-Coverage-Costs.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124415/Greater-Optimism-U.S.-Health-System-Coverage-Costs.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT If a new healthcare bill is passed into law, Americans would be most concerned about its costs, increased government involvement in healthcare, how a new law would affect their personal healthcare situations, and that a new bill would not do enough to expand healthcare access. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124331/Costs-Gov't-Involvement-Top-Healthcare-Reform-Concerns.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124331/Costs-Gov't-Involvement-Top-Healthcare-Reform-Concerns.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT There appears to be little holiday cheer on Main Street, according to Gallup’s key economic indicators, as consumer spending was down 23% last week from the same week last year. Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index and Job Creation Index remained essentially unchanged from the previous week. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124304/Gallup-Economic-Weekly-Waiting-Holiday-Cheer.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124304/Gallup-Economic-Weekly-Waiting-Holiday-Cheer.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT After several months of decreased concern, Americans in November are more likely than last month to cite economic concerns as the most important problem facing the country. Now, 31% mention the economy in general and 20% mention unemployment as the top problem. Healthcare (22%) also figures prominently. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124298/Economy-Picks-Up-Again-Most-Important-Problem.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124298/Economy-Picks-Up-Again-Most-Important-Problem.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:45:00 GMT Americans express slightly greater approval of Congress this month after last month’s decline, but the current 26% rating is still down from this summer. While Democrats’ and Republicans’ approval is up from last month, the percentage of independents approving is the lowest it has been all year. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124277/Congress-Approval-Recovers-Independents-Buck-Trend.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124277/Congress-Approval-Recovers-Independents-Buck-Trend.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:45:00 GMT More Americans now believe it is not the government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage (50%) than think it is (47%). This marks the first time this decade when a plurality has not favored the “government responsibility” viewpoint. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124253/Say-Health-Coverage-Not-Gov-Responsibility.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124253/Say-Health-Coverage-Not-Gov-Responsibility.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Forty-two percent of Americans believe President Barack Obama should increase U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan, either by the roughly 40,000 Gen. Stanley McChrystal recommended (35%) or by a smaller amount (7%). However, slightly more Americans, 44%, favor a reduction of U.S. troops in that country. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124238/Americans-Split-Afghanistan-Troop-Increase-Decrease.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124238/Americans-Split-Afghanistan-Troop-Increase-Decrease.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT A new Gallup poll conducted Nov. 5-8 finds a widespread lack of optimism about the job market, with 8% of Americans saying this is a good time to find a quality job, and little variation regardless of gender, region, income, or education. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124235/New-Low-U.S.-Job-Optimism.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124235/New-Low-U.S.-Job-Optimism.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:30:00 GMT Republicans have moved ahead of Democrats, 48% to 44%, in Gallup’s latest update on registered-voter preferences for the 2010 midterm congressional elections. Over the course of the year, independents have grown increasingly likely to vote Republican on this measure. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124226/Republicans-Edge-Ahead-Democrats-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124226/Republicans-Edge-Ahead-Democrats-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT One out of five parents in the U.S. say they have attempted to get H1N1 or swine flu vaccinations for a child but have been unable to do so. Seventeen percent of parents say at least one of their children has already been vaccinated, compared to 5% of adults who have been personally vaccinated. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124220/Parents-Unable-H1N1-Vaccine-Child.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124220/Parents-Unable-H1N1-Vaccine-Child.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index fell to a 15-week low as a 26-year high in the unemployment rate and a new 2009 high in gas prices more than offset any potential confidence benefits associated with the gains in the Dow. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124208/Gallup-Economic-Weekly-Confidence-Slips-So-Far-Nov.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124208/Gallup-Economic-Weekly-Confidence-Slips-So-Far-Nov.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans are evenly split on the potential long-term impact of a new healthcare bill on the U.S. healthcare system: 41% say it would make the system better; 40% say it would make it worse. They are more negative than positive on the bill’s potential impact on their personal healthcare situations. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124202/No-Clear-Mandate-Americans-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124202/No-Clear-Mandate-Americans-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:45:00 GMT Forty-one percent of Americans say race relations have gotten at least a little better under Barack Obama; about half as many say they have worsened. Last November, 70% expected race relations to improve as a result of his election, and 61% still hold out hope that this will happen in the long run. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124181/U.S.-Waiting-Race-Relations-Improve-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124181/U.S.-Waiting-Race-Relations-Improve-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans view Secretary of Defense Robert Gates positively to the extent they are familiar with him. Forty-nine percent have a favorable opinion of Gates, with 19% unfavorable and 33% unsure. Though Gates is a Republican, Democrats view him more favorably than Republicans. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124175/Americans-Mostly-Favorable-Defense-Secretary-Gates.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124175/Americans-Mostly-Favorable-Defense-Secretary-Gates.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:15:00 GMT Flu cases in the U.S. continue to tick higher, with an average of 2.7% of adults in October reporting that they were “sick with the flu yesterday,” compared to 1.9% in September and 2.0% in October 2008. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124118/Self-Reported-Flu-Cases-U.S.-Up-Slightly-October.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124118/Self-Reported-Flu-Cases-U.S.-Up-Slightly-October.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Job-market conditions improved in October, driven by improvements in the South and the East, with hiring up and layoffs down in both regions. Still, the job situation is unchanged in the Midwest and West. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124109/Gallup-Economic-Monthly-October-Jobs-Best-South-East.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124109/Gallup-Economic-Monthly-October-Jobs-Best-South-East.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:15:00 GMT Republicans give Mike Huckabee (71%) an edge over Mitt Romney (65%) and Sarah Palin (65%) when asked if they would seriously consider voting for each as president. Huckabee and Romney have greater appeal to the broader public, though only 4 in 10 Americans say they would consider voting for either. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124097/Huckabee-Romney-Palin-See-Most-Republican-Support-12.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124097/Huckabee-Romney-Palin-See-Most-Republican-Support-12.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT More Americans now say President Barack Obama is governing from the left (54%) than expected him to do so just after the election (43%). Less than half (48%) currently think he is keeping his promises -- down from two-thirds (65%) in April. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124094/Majority-Say-Obama-Policies-Mostly-Liberal.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124094/Majority-Say-Obama-Policies-Mostly-Liberal.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:45:00 GMT Americans are much less sure than they were a year ago at the time of his election that President Barack Obama will be able to accomplish a number of challenges facing his administration. In particular, far fewer Americans believe he will be able to heal political divisions and control federal spending. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124085/One-Year-Election-Americans-Less-Sure-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124085/One-Year-Election-Americans-Less-Sure-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:00 GMT Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index data from 2009 document the extent to which people who exercise more frequently have higher well-being. Exercise relates not only to lower rates of obesity, but also to higher life evaluation and emotional health scores and lower rates of reported depression. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124073/Exercise-Little-Goes-Long.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124073/Exercise-Little-Goes-Long.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:45:00 GMT Close to half of black adults nationwide, 47%, say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., up from 10% in mid-2008. There has been a much smaller increase among whites -- now 22%, up from 15%. Even among Democrats, blacks show a greater increase than whites in satisfaction. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124037/Blacks-Far-More-Satisfied-U.S.-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124037/Blacks-Far-More-Satisfied-U.S.-Obama.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:30:00 GMT The Democrats’ 46% to 44% advantage on the generic ballot suggests a solid Republican showing if the midterm elections were held today, assuming a typical GOP advantage in turnout. Even far in advance of the elections, the generic ballot has proven to yield reasonable insight into the U.S. House vote. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124010/Generic-Ballot-Provides-Clues-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124010/Generic-Ballot-Provides-Clues-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT