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Business and Economy

Americans Remain Broadly Supportive of Labor Unions

Public divided as to whether their influence should increase, decrease, or stay the same

December 1, 2008

The most recent Gallup Poll update on labor unions finds 59% of Americans saying they approve of labor unions, in line with recent years’ data. But the public remains rather divided as to whether U.S. labor unions should have more (35%), less (32%), or the same (28%) influence in the future as they have today.More ...

All Signs Point to Low Expectations for Retailers

November 28, 2008

With highly negative consumer confidence levels, Americans increasingly worried about money, and estimated Christmas spending at an all-time low, this traditional shopping weekend is likely to be a tough one for retailers.

Americans in No Mood to Shop

Variety of Gallup indicators suggest consumers will spend cautiously

November 28, 2008

If Black Friday lives up to its name, it will be in spite of extraordinarily bleak indicators. These include Americans’ highly conservative 2008 Christmas spending forecast, their negative outlook for their personal standard of living, and their lack of confidence in the U.S. economy.More ...

Hiring Measure Projects Slightly Lower Jobless Claims

Still, seasonally adjusted unemployment claims continued to surge last week

November 25, 2008

Gallup’s hiring measure suggests that job losses continue to surge but that new jobless claims increased last week by less than the 542,000 of the prior week, and probably by less than the 537,000 consensus estimate.More ...

Only 12% Believe Now Is a Good Time to Find a Quality Job

Job-market evaluations worst in seven years

November 24, 2008

A recent Gallup Poll found just 12% of Americans saying now is a good time to find a quality job -- the worst reading Gallup has measured since it began tracking this monthly in 2001. Gallup Poll Daily tracking finds consumer evaluations of the overall economy the worst they have been this year.More ...

Economy Runaway Winner as Most Important Problem

Most expect it will be two or more years before economy picks up

November 21, 2008

More than three in four Americans (77%) mention some aspect of the economy as the most important problem facing the country, one of the highest levels since Gallup first asked the question in 1939. Most Americans believe it will be two years or longer before the economy starts to recover.More ...

Post-Election Uptick in Consumer Confidence Short-Lived

Consumers were getting more pessimistic even before the current stock market plunge

November 20, 2008

New aggregated weekly data show that any Obama election “halo effect” on consumer confidence was short-lived at best, with the percentage of Americans rating the economy “poor” hitting a new weekly high of 61% last week.More ...

Hiring Measure Projects Higher Jobless Claims

Weekly results have high probability of projecting unemployment claims

November 19, 2008

Employee perceptions of the job market suggest odds are better than 7 in 10 that new unemployment claims continued to surge last week, surpassing the 515,000 reported by the Labor Department a week ago.More ...

Americans Plan to Spend Less Than Ever This Christmas

November 19, 2008

Americans expect to spend an average of $616 on Christmas gifts this year, far less than the $866 Americans predicted they would spend on gifts at the same time last year and a record low in Gallup polling history.

Christmas Spending Projection Drops to New Low

Projected shopping at department stores takes biggest hit

November 19, 2008

Americans’ projected average Christmas spending this year, $616, is the lowest in Gallup’s 10-year history of tracking this question in its current format, and provides further evidence of the heavy toll the current economic turmoil is taking on America’s retailers.More ...

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Business and Economy

Americans Remain Broadly Supportive of Labor Unions

Public divided as to whether their influence should increase, decrease, or stay the same

All Signs Point to Low Expectations for Retailers

Americans in No Mood to Shop

Variety of Gallup indicators suggest consumers will spend cautiously

Hiring Measure Projects Slightly Lower Jobless Claims

Still, seasonally adjusted unemployment claims continued to surge last week

Only 12% Believe Now Is a Good Time to Find a Quality Job

Job-market evaluations worst in seven years

Economy Runaway Winner as Most Important Problem

Most expect it will be two or more years before economy picks up

Post-Election Uptick in Consumer Confidence Short-Lived

Consumers were getting more pessimistic even before the current stock market plunge

Hiring Measure Projects Higher Jobless Claims

Weekly results have high probability of projecting unemployment claims

Americans Plan to Spend Less Than Ever This Christmas

Christmas Spending Projection Drops to New Low

Projected shopping at department stores takes biggest hit

Topic Search

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Americans Torn on Support for Auto Bailout

U.S. Workers Continue to See a Deteriorating Job Market

Majority of Americans Cutting Back on Spending

Sharp Increase in Americans’ Worry About Money

Higher-Income Americans Turning More Pessimistic

Economic Crisis Affecting Mood as Well as Wallets

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