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45% Trust Fed to Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Under Control

Confidence in the Federal Reserve’s ability to keep inflation and interest rates down is at its highest level in over a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident that the Fed can keep inflation and interest rates down, but that includes just 10% who are Very Confident. Fifty percent (50%) lack that confidence, with 13% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on January 14-15, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

29% Favor Phasing Out the Penny

The U.S. Mint reports it costs 2.41 cents to produce one penny, but support for getting rid of the coin is at an all-time low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% favor a proposal to stop making pennies in the United States. Fifty percent (50%) oppose such a proposal, but 21% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. 

49% Have Gone A Week Without Paying Cash

Fewer Americans are paying by cash these days, and half now say they’ve gone through a week without paying for anything in cash and coins.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of American Adults say they pay cash for groceries, compared to 24% in April 2012. Twenty-eight percent (28%) pay cash at a restaurant, but that’s down from 32% two years ago. In 2012, most (52%) still paid cash when they went to the movies, but now just 39% buy their tickets that way.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Confidence in U.S. Banking System Climbs to Post-Meltdown High

Americans are starting off 2014 with their most optimistic view of the nation's banks since before the Wall Street meltdown.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults are now confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, including 11% who are Very Confident. Forty-one percent (41%) are not as confident, with 10% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

46% Believe Long-Term Unemployment Benefits Increase Unemployment

Congress is considering a proposal to extend long-term unemployment benefits, but a sizable number of Americans believes such an extension will just add to the problem.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that a plurality (47%) of American Adults thinks long-term unemployment benefits hurt the economy. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say those benefits help the economy, while 13% believe they have no impact. Just as many (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

10% Think Government Employees Work Harder Than Those in Private Sector

Americans continue to believe that government workers are better off than those employed in the private sector. Forty-six percent (46%) of American Adults think the average government worker earns more annually than the average private sector worker, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty percent (30%) disagree, while 24% are undecided. (To see survey questions, click here).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

46% Favor Extending Unemployment Benefits, 39% Oppose

Voters narrowly favor a proposal now before Congress to extend combined unemployment benefits for up to 73 weeks.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults favor a proposal now before Congress that would continue combined state and federal unemployment benefits for up to 73 weeks for those unable to find a job. Thirty-nine percent (39%) oppose this proposal now being pushed by Senate Democrats and President Obama. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

15% Favor Extending Unemployment Benefits Indefinitely

Support for extending unemployment benefits is up slightly, but more than twice as many Americans still think the federal government should do nothing at all to help the long-term unemployed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 15% of American Adults believe the federal government should extend unemployment benefits indefinitely for those who can’t find work after an extended period of time. That's up from 10% in November and the highest level of support since June 2011. Essentially unchanged from past surveys are the 11% who think the government should just hire the long-term unemployed. Twenty-nine percent (29%) prefer the short-term solution of paying for their retraining, consistent with surveying for the past couple years.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

New Low: 25% Think Job Market Worse Than a Year Ago

Most Americans still know someone out of work and looking for a job, but they’re much less pessimistic about the current job market.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of American Adults believe the job market today is better than it was a year ago. That's up six points from November but consistent with findings for much of the last year-and-a-half. Just as many (25%) think the job market’s worse than a year ago, but that’s down 13 points from November and the lowest level of pessimism in nearly four years of regular surveying. Forty-eight percent (48%) think the job market is about the same as it was a year ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

35% Think U.S. Government Should Consider Selling the Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service has been plagued with financial problems for years, but fewer adults now believe the federal government should sell the Postal Service. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of American Adults think the U.S. government should consider selling the Postal Service to a private company in order to reduce the federal budget deficit. But that's down from 40% in 2011. Forty-eight percent (48%) oppose such sale, while 17% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

29% Say It’s a Good Time to Sell a House In Their Area

Just over half of Americans think buying a home is a family's best investment, but confidence that now is a good time to sell where they live has fallen to its lowest level in several months.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of American Adults say now is a good time for someone in their area to sell a house. That's down from 32% last month and from 39% in September, the highest finding in regular surveying since April 2009.  It's the most pessimistic finding since March. Forty-three percent (43%) disagree and say now is not a good time to sell, while 27% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 19-20, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

10% Likely To Miss or Be Late With Upcoming Mortgage Payment

Most homeowners continue to say they have not missed a mortgage payment in the last six months, but their outlook for the next six months is less optimistic.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just seven percent (7%) of U.S. Homeowners admit to missing a mortgage payment or paying late over the last six months. Ninety-one percent (91%) have not missed or been late on a payment, up slightly from 89% in September which was the first time that number had dipped below 90% since March 2011. (To see survey question wording, click here).

62% Say Their Home Is Worth More Than What They Still Owe

Belief among homeowners that their home is worth more than what they still owe on their mortgage is at its highest level in over four-and-a-half years. Short- and long-term confidence in housing values remains at the higher levels seen all this year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% feel the value of their home is more than what they owe on their mortgage. That's the highest finding since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking on this question in April 2009. A record low of 24% feel their home is worth less than what they still owe, while 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

75% Favor Raising Minimum Wage to $10.10 An Hour or More

Most Americans favor raising the minimum wage but are almost evenly divided over whether that will help or hurt the economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of American Adults are in favor of raising the minimum wage from its current level of $7.25. Thirty-three percent (33%) are opposed, while 11% remain undecided. This is comparable to findings in February when President Obama first proposed raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour. (To see survey question wording, click here).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 5-6, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology. 

66% Think Long-Term Budget Deal to Avoid Another Shutdown Is Unlikely

Both sides insist a budget deal is near that will avoid another federal government shutdown, but most voters still want budget cuts and remain skeptical that such a deal is coming.

Just 12% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a federal budget that increases government spending, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) prefer a long-term budget deal that cuts spending instead. Twenty-five percent (25%) want to keep federal spending about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

43% Expect To Earn More A Year From Now

President Obama on Wednesday declared that growing income inequality in the United States is "the defining challenge of our time." The number of workers who consider themselves poor is at its highest point this year, but help may be on the way: The number who expect to be earning more a year from now matches its highest level in four-and-a-half years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that most Employed Adults (68%) still consider themselves to be middle class, with another 15% who say they are upper middle class. Just three percent (3%) consider themselves wealthy. Fourteen percent (14%) now say they are the working poor, up from 13% in October and the highest finding of the year. This finding was at its highest in May 2010, when 22% of workers classified themselves as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Facebook.

The survey of 600 Employed Adults was conducted on December 3-4 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

19% Say Bad Economy is Making Them Use Credit Cards More

Most Americans think their fellow countrymen use their credit cards too much, but one-in-five say the bad economy makes them do it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Adults agree that most Americans need to cut back on credit card use and other borrowing, although that's down 12 points from 87% who felt that way in April 2009. Just seven percent (7%) disagree, while 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 26, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 

25% Are Looking for a New Job

Fewer workers than ever are willing to commit to their current job.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of Employed Adults are looking for a job outside of their current company, consistent with surveys for much of this year. A sizable majority (64%) still says it’s not looking for a job elsewhere, but that’s down from 72% in October and the lowest finding in regular surveying since the spring of 2009. Ten percent (10%) are undecided whether to look or not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a  free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 600 Employed Adults was conducted on December 3-4, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Say They Use Their Credit Cards Too Much

One-in-four Americans expects to miss a credit card payment in the near future, but even more admit that they need to cut back on their credit care usage.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 82% of American Adults have at least one credit card, including 38% who have three or more. Forty-four percent (44%) report having one or two credit cards. Sixteen percent (16%) say they don’t have any. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

This survey of 829 Adults nationwide who have at least one credit card was conducted on November 26, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

24% Have Had Credit Information Stolen Online

Most Americans are fairly comfortable using their credit cards online, but one-in-four say they have had information stolen that way.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 70% of American Adults with credit cards say they are at least somewhat comfortable using those cards for online purchases. Twenty-eight percent (28%) don't share that comfort level. This includes 32% who are Very Comfortable using a credit card online and 11% who are Not At All Comfortable. (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

This survey of 829 Adults nationwide who have at least one credit card was conducted on December 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.