Americas

Americans Keep Volunteering During Tough Economic Times

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Despite challenges brought on by the recession, Americans continued to offer their time to organizations -- with more than one-third saying they volunteered “in the past month” between September 2008 and July 2009. Volunteers experienced higher well-being than those who do not volunteer.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Spending Up Pre-Black Friday

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Although Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index last week was down slightly from the prior week and from October, consumer spending was up 11% for the week and is at its smallest year-to-year difference (down 7%) of 2009 from the same week a year ago -- providing some added hope for retailers this Black Friday.

Women Disagree With New Mammogram Advice

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds 76% of U.S. women aged 35 to 75 disagreeing with the more relaxed medical recommendations on mammograms that were announced by a government advisory panel last week, including 47% saying they “strongly disagree” with them.

Americans’ Personal Burden for Healthcare Costs Stable

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:00 GMT

More than 8 out of 10 Americans with private health insurance say they pay at least some of the cost themselves, and 72% of those say the amount they pay has gone up at least a little over the previous year. These percentages are relatively stable.

“Most Urgent U.S. Health Problem” Still Access to Healthcare

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Access to healthcare continues to lead the list of issues Americans name as the country’s “most urgent health problem,” now cited by 32%. At 18%, the cost of healthcare is also widely mentioned, but to a lesser degree than it was a year ago. Flu/H1N1 has zoomed to nearly tie costs, at 16%.

Obama Job Approval Down to 49%

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

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.

In U.S., More Would Like to Lose Weight Than Are Trying To

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 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%).

Lack of Money/Wages Top Family Financial Problem in U.S.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:00 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.

Greater Optimism About U.S. Health System Coverage, Costs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 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%).

Nonsmokers Top Smokers in Well-Being Across All Incomes

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Smoking is strongly related to well-being regardless of income, according to Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index data from 2008 and 2009. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers are less likely than non-smokers to be “thriving," report fewer positive emotions, and are more likely to report depression.

Costs, Gov't Involvement Top Healthcare Reform Concerns

Wed, 18 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.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Waiting for Holiday Cheer

Tue, 17 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.

Economy Picks Up Again as Most Important Problem in U.S.

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:45:00 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.

Christmas Spending Forecast Reverts to Record 2008 Lows

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Americans’ estimate of the total amount they will spend on Christmas gifts this year is now $638, essentially matching the record lows from November and December 2008. Fewer Americans say they will be spending less on gifts this year than said this a year ago, while most say they will spend the same amount.

Congress' Approval Recovers Some; Independents Buck Trend

Fri, 13 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.

More in U.S. Say Health Coverage Is Not Gov’t. Responsibility

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:00 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.

More Americans Rate Lives Well, but More Hurting at Work

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The percentage of Americans that are “thriving” climbed above 53% in October, sending the Gallup-Healthways Life Evaluation Index to its highest level since tracking began in January 2008. At the same time, working Americans gave their most negative responses yet about their work environments.

‘Chavismo’ Losing Steam in Venezuela

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Venezuelans’ approval of President Hugo Chavez has declined in recent years, from 61% in 2006 to 47% in 2009. During that time, Venezuelans have also grown less likely to identify with the socialist ideology Chavez represents.

Americans Split on Afghanistan Troop Increase vs. Decrease

Thu, 12 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.

New Low in U.S. Job Optimism

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:30:00 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.

Republicans Edge Ahead of Democrats in 2010 Vote

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 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.

In U.S., 20% of Parents Unable to Get H1N1 Vaccine for Child

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 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.

Gallup Economic Weekly: Confidence Slips So Far in Nov.

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:00 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.

No Clear Mandate From Americans on Healthcare Reform

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:45:00 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.

U.S. Waiting for Race Relations to Improve Under Obama

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:00:00 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.