Poll: Pessimism About National Economy Rises

Personal Financial Views Hold Steady

With a growing number of Americans saying they have been hearing “mostly bad” economic news, opinions about the current state of the national economy remain grim. Positive expectations regarding future economic conditions, which remained high even during the depths of the recession, have declined and now stand at their lowest point since mid-2008.

Yet Americans express very different views about their own financial situations. And these impressions, while hardly favorable, have not become more negative over the past several months.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted June 15-19 among 1,502 adults, finds that 29% expect that economic conditions will be better a year from now while 23% say things will be worse. Last October, more than twice as many said the economy would be better, rather than worse, in a year (35% vs. 16%).

A separate survey, released June 8, found that the percentage saying they are hearing “mostly bad” economic news has nearly doubled since the start of the year, from 24% in January to 46% in June.  For poll results, click here.

Read More.