Business

New Low: 30% Expect to Earn More A Year From Now

The number of Americans who expect to be earning more money in a year’s time has fallen to a record low, while those who expect to be making even less than they are now is at its highest level in two-and-a-half years.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of employed adults shows that 30% think they will be making more a year from today, but that’s down six points from 36% in November and the most pessimistic finding found in regular tracking since April 2009. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 616 Employed Adults was conducted on January 2-3, 2012 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.

47% Say Staying With Current Company Best For Advancement

A plurality of working Americans feels their best opportunity for career advancement is to stay put, and fewer believe their next job will be better than their current one. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Employed Adults finds that 47% say they have a better opportunity for career advancement by staying within their current company.  Thirty percent (30%) think their chances are better if they go to work for someone else, unchanged from November and still at the lowest level measured in nearly two years of surveying.  Another 22% are not sure which course is better.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 616 Employed Adults was conducted on January 2-3, 2012 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.

76% Say Wealthy Like Kim Kardashian Already Pay Enough in State Taxes

Tax hiking activists in California have been airing a TV commercial pointing out that millionaire celebrity Kim Kardashian pays a 10.3% state tax rate when the average middle class family is paying 9.3%. The commercial includes the full screen message “We All Need to Pay Our Fair Share.” But most voters nationally think the state's present tax rates are fair, and a sizable number say the 10.3% rate is too high. In short, the ad may not be resonating the way its promoters hope.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters say it’s fair for the wealthy to pay a 10.3% rate while middle class families pay 9.3%. Just one-out-of-three voters (32%) think that arrangement is unfair. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 29-30, 2011 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.

Personal Finance Ratings Up in December

On the final day of 2011, 36% of American adults rated their own finances as good or excellent. That was most optimistic assessment of the month and highlighted a trend of modestly improving confidence during the final two months of the year.

29% Say Home Worth Less Than When They Bought It

Most homeowners are confident they know what their home is worth, and more of them than ever say it's worth less now than when they bought it.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of homeowners shows that 52% believe their home is worth more than what they paid when they purchased it.

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The survey of 690 U.S. Homeowners was conducted on December 19-20, 2011 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.

To Help Economy, Voters Want Government To Do More Cutting

A growing number of voters want the government to do more in response to the ailing economy. What they’re looking for, however, is for government to shrink itself rather than expand its presence in the economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters worry more that the federal government will do too much rather than not enough in reacting to the nation’s economic problems.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 2011 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.

Just 44% Believe Their Home Worth More Than Mortgage

Home ownership used to be the cornerstone of middle class financial planning and equity in a home is typically a family’s biggest asset. But most homeowners now doubt they have any equity value in their home.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. homeowners shows that just 44% believe their home is worth more than the amount they still owe on their mortgage.

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The survey of 690 U.S. Homeowners was conducted on December 19-20, 2011 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.

40% Confident Fed Can Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Down

Most Americans remain concerned about inflation but are slightly more confident in the Federal Reserve Board's ability to keep it under control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 40% are at least somewhat confident that the Fed will be able to keep inflation under control and interest rates down, but that includes only five percent (5%) who are Very Confident.

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 2011 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 High: 50% Worry Government Won’t Do Enough To Counter Bad Economy

Most voters continue to believe the government bailouts were a bad idea, but at the same time concern that the government won’t do enough in response to the bad economy has reached its highest level in over three years of regular surveying.

Just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters worry more that the federal government will do too much in reacting to current economic problems. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 50% now are more worried that the government will not do enough, up three points from last month.  Eleven percent (11%) are not sure.

Most Voters Still Feel Tax Cuts, Spending Cuts Help The Economy

Most voters continue to believe that the economy would be better off if both taxes and government spending were reduced, but if taxes are increased, voters still lean toward raising them only on the rich.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters think tax cuts help the economy. That’s in the low end of findings that have ranged from 51% to 63% in monthly surveys since July 2008.  Twenty-one percent (21%) say tax cuts hurt the economy, while 15% say they have no impact. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.

44% Confident in U.S. Banking Industry, 48% Are Not

While confidence in the nation’s banking industry is up from last month, roughly one-in-three Americans are still worried they will lose their money as a result of a bank failure.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including eight percent (8%) who are Very Confident.

(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 nationwide was conducted on December 11-12, 2011 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.

Americans Still Believe Private Sector Workers Work Harder, Get Less Than Government Workers

American adults, as they have for years, believe that government workers have it better than those in the private sector.

26% Prefer Government-Managed Economy

One-out-of-four Americans continue to believe the government should manage the U.S. economy. Nearly as many say the government should mind its own business.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 26% of American Adults believe the appropriate role of government is to manage the economy, but 23% say it's better for the government to stay out of economic decisions altogether. However, a plurality(46%) thinks the appropriate role for the government in the economy is to provide programs like unemployment insurance to help people through difficult times.

38% Are Concerned About Safety of Electric Cars

Despite recent concerns about Chevrolet’s electric Volt possibly catching fire in a crash, most Americans aren’t worried about the safety of electric cars but still don’t intend to buy one in the next 10 years.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 38% of American Adults are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of electric cars, with 16% who are Very Concerned. But 56% don’t share that concern, although that includes only 15% who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 5-6, 2011 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.

37% See Increased Government Hiring As Good for Economy, 41% Say Bad

Americans are a bit more evenly divided when it comes to whether the economy benefits from the government hiring more unemployed people. But nearly a third still thinks the government should do nothing for the long-term unemployed.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 37% of Americans think it would be good for the U.S. economy if the government hires more people, up just one point from October but the highest result found in over a year.

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43% Say 99 Weeks of Benefits Increase The Unemployment Problem

Congress is again debating whether to extend the funding that makes possible up to 99 weeks of state and federal unemployment benefits, even as Americans continue to express skepticism about benefits that last that long.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of American Adults believe 99 weeks is too long a period to provide unemployment benefits, while 17% say it’s too short a time. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just one-in-three Americans (33%) think the 99 week-period is about right.

82% Know Someone Out of Work and Looking For A Job

Though the national unemployment rate fell slightly in November, more Americans than ever know someone who is out of work and looking for a job. The number who expect unemployment to be lower a year from now remains at its all-time low.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 82% know someone who is out of work and looking for a job.

(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 December 1-2, 2011 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% Say It’s Still Possible for Anyone in America to Get Rich By Working Hard

At a time when many Americans are lashing out at the top 1% income earners, the number of adults who believe it is possible for anyone in America to work hard and get rich is at its highest level in nearly three years. But one-out-of-two still don't share that belief.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 35% say it is still possible for anyone living in America to work hard and get rich, up three points from September and a finding that has ranged from 26% to 34% since January 2009.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 27-28, 2011 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.

Rasmussen Employment Index Moves to Highest Level Since June

The Rasmussen Employment Index, which measures workers’ perceptions of the labor market each month, gained five points in November to reach 76.8. Generally speaking, an increase in the Rasmussen Employment Index suggests the upcoming government reports on job creation will be better than the prior month.

71% Say Housing Market Will Take At Least Three Years To Recover

Americans continue to share gloomy assessments of the housing and stock markets, and half continue to believe another 1930s-like Depression is possible in the near future.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of American Adults now believe it will take at least three years for housing prices to recover. That figure includes 20% who think it will take three years and 51% who expect it will take even longer. It matches the most pessimistic assessment in nearly three 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 or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 27-28, 2011 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.