Personal Finances

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

Mentions exceed those for healthcare, unemployment, other financial issues

November 19, 2009

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.More ...

Weekly Economic Wrap: Job Creation, Spending Unimproved

Consumer confidence is down slightly in July but up from a year ago

July 28, 2009

U.S. consumer confidence remains at a significantly higher level than it was a year ago, but Gallup’s weekly update on Americans’ economic behavior shows no sign yet of a similar uptick in either job creation or consumer spending.More ...

Weekly Economic Wrap: Fewer See Economy Improving

Consumers’ outlook more pessimistic, but spending is flat

July 14, 2009

The number of Americans saying the U.S. economy is “getting better” is down four percentage points from the prior week, to 31%, but consumer spending is unchanged from the previous week, and is down 32% from the same week a year ago.More ...

Weekly Economic Wrap: Little Fourth-of-July Cheer

Consumers spent $4 more per day, on average, over the holiday week

July 7, 2009

Americans spent $4 more per day, on average, last week celebrating the Fourth of July than they did in the prior week -- leaving spending down 37% from the same holiday week a year ago.More ...

Upper-Income Consumers Most Inclined to Trim Their Debt

Sixty percent of this group intends to do so, compared to 44% of Americans overall

July 6, 2009

A new Gallup Poll finds 60% of upper-income consumers and 44% of all Americans intending to reduce their total debt over the next six months.More ...

Spending Cutbacks Common; Daily Money Worries Less So

New normal seems to be less spending

June 29, 2009

While 71% of Americans say they are cutting back on their spending, a much smaller 21% say they worried “yesterday” about their spending, and 78% say they have enough money to buy the things they need.More ...

Most Americans Don’t Foresee $4 Gas Prices This Year

Fifty-six percent say prices causing them hardship, but just 12% report severe hardship

June 19, 2009

Americans, on average, predict gas prices will rise to $3.39 a gallon this year. That forecast is 70 cents higher than what Americans report they are currently paying, but still well below the record-high $4.11 of last year. Only 22% predict gas prices will top $4 by year’s end.More ...

Americans Deleveraging: One in Three Has Reduced Debt

Nearly half say it is bad time to borrow

June 17, 2009

A new Gallup Poll finds Americans deleveraging -- with nearly one in three saying they have reduced their total amount of outstanding debt over the past six months.More ...

Weekly Economic Wrap: Spending Continues to Wither

Consumers’ mood and job conditions improve slightly, while spending does not

June 16, 2009

Consumers’ mood improved slightly last week, as did employee perceptions of job market gains and losses, but consumer spending is down from the prior week -- and down 29% from the relatively low spending levels of the same week a year ago.More ...

Weekly Economic Wrap: Muted Reaction to GM Bankruptcy

Consumers’ mood and job conditions worsen slightly while spending is up slightly

June 9, 2009

General Motors’ bankruptcy has had little impact so far on Americans’ perceptions of the economy. Consumers’ mood slipped only slightly last week, giving up the previous week's gains, while spending edged up from the prior week -- but remains down 48% from the same week a year ago.More ...

Personal Finances

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

Mentions exceed those for healthcare, unemployment, other financial issues

Weekly Economic Wrap: Job Creation, Spending Unimproved

Consumer confidence is down slightly in July but up from a year ago

Weekly Economic Wrap: Fewer See Economy Improving

Consumers’ outlook more pessimistic, but spending is flat

Weekly Economic Wrap: Little Fourth-of-July Cheer

Consumers spent $4 more per day, on average, over the holiday week

Upper-Income Consumers Most Inclined to Trim Their Debt

Sixty percent of this group intends to do so, compared to 44% of Americans overall

Spending Cutbacks Common; Daily Money Worries Less So

New normal seems to be less spending

Most Americans Don’t Foresee $4 Gas Prices This Year

Fifty-six percent say prices causing them hardship, but just 12% report severe hardship

Americans Deleveraging: One in Three Has Reduced Debt

Nearly half say it is bad time to borrow

Weekly Economic Wrap: Spending Continues to Wither

Consumers’ mood and job conditions improve slightly, while spending does not

Weekly Economic Wrap: Muted Reaction to GM Bankruptcy

Consumers’ mood and job conditions worsen slightly while spending is up slightly

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Personal Finances

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