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   Economic Outlook, Personal Finances, Consumer Behavior

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). Oct. 10-13, 2016. N=1,000 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

"When you think about your own financial situation, looking ahead to the next year or so, do you feel confident and optimistic or worried and uncertain?"

10/10-13/16

42

3

3

9/19-22/08

58

7

1

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Jan. 12-15, 2015. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Would you say you, yourself, are better off financially than you were when Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape financially?"

1/12-15/15

25

49

2

5/17-20/12

30

53

1

1/12-15/12

30

54

1

10/31 - 11/3/11

34

52

1

8/29 - 9/1/11

35

50

-

7/15-18/09

27

64

-

"To the extent that the economy has improved, do you think the recovery has helped Americans at all income levels, or has it mostly helped wealthy Americans?" Options rotated

1/12-15/15

50

1

6

5

CNN/ORC Poll. Nov. 21-23, 2014. N=1,045 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of economic conditions today? The economy is starting to recover from the problems it faced in the past few years. An economic recovery has not started but conditions have stabilized and are not getting any worse. The economy is still in a downturn and conditions are continuing to worsen."

11/21-23/14

41

26

1

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). July 30-Aug. 3, 2014. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

"Do you feel that the economy is improving right now, or not?"

7/30 - 8/3/14

47

3

"Right now, do you think the United States is in an economic recession, or not?" Half sample

7/30 - 8/3/14

46

5

3/5-9/14

41

2

5/30 - 6/2/13

38

4

12/6-9/12

34

2

5/20-23/10

22

2

CNN/ORC Poll. May 29-June 1, 2014. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"As you may know, the financial crisis of 2008 caused severe problems for the nation's economy. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of the economic conditions today? The economy has completely recovered from the problems it faced in 2008. The economy has started to recover but still faces most of those problems it faced in 2008. An economic recovery has not started but conditions have stabilized and are not getting worse. The economy is still in a downturn and conditions are continuing to worsen."

5/29 - 6/1/14

40

31

27

1

"How likely do you think it is that the economy will experience a financial crisis in the next few years like the one that occurred in 2008? Do you think this is very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?"

5/29 - 6/1/14

45

24

7

1

11/11-14/10

45

27

9

1

"Thinking about economic conditions in the past, including the availability of good jobs, the price of basic goods and services, and the ability to get ahead and plan for the future, in which era do you think the typical American family faced the best economic conditions: the 1950s, the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s, the period from 2000 to 2007, or the period from 2008 to today?"

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000-2007

2008 to today

Unsure

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Feb. 27-March 2, 2014. N=1,002 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Regardless of whether or not the recession is over, in terms of your own personal experience, do you feel the economy has or has not begun to recover?"
3/13 & 5/13: "Now thinking about the economy, in terms of your own personal experience, do you feel the economy has or has not begun to recover?"

2/27 - 3/2/14

42

1

12/12-15/13

39

2

5/16-19/13

43

1

3/7-10/13

46

2

12/13-16/12

45

2

3/7-10/12

49

2

1/12-15/12

54

1

10/31 - 11/3/11

63

1

6/2-5/11

57

1

3/10-13/11

53

1

12/9-12/10

57

2

2/4-8/10

53

1

12/10-13/09

49

1

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Dec. 12-15, 2013. N=1,005 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Do you think the country's economic recession is over, or do you think the economy is still in a recession?" Options rotated

12/12-15/13

79

3

12/13-16/12

76

3

4/5-8/12

76

4

McClatchy-Marist Poll. Dec. 3-5, 2013. N=600 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"When thinking about the U.S. economy, which statement comes closer to your view? The worst is yet to come. The worst is behind us."

12/3-5/13

42

3

12/4-6/12

42

5

3/20-22/12

49

6

11/8-10/11

41

5

9/13-14/11

35

3

8/2-4/11

27

6

6/15-23/11

42

6

4/10-14/11

39

4

1/6-10/11

54

7

Washington Post/Miller Center Poll. Sept. 6-12, 2013. N=1,509 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Would you say you feel more financially secure, less secure, or about as secure as you felt a few years ago?"

9/6-12/13

48

29

1

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Sept. 5-8, 2013. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

"Over the past three to five years how much were you personally affected by the crises on Wall Street and in the mortgage and housing markets: a great deal, some, only a little, or not at all?"

9/5-8/13

28

24

1

Pew Research Center. Sept. 4-8, 2013. N=1,506 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.9.

"Which of the following national economic issues worries you most? The job situation. Rising prices. The federal budget deficit. The condition of the financial and housing markets." Options rotated
3/13 & earlier: "Which of the following national economic issues worries you most? The job situation. Rising prices. The federal budget deficit. Problems in the financial and housing markets."

9/4-8/13

24

22

10

4

3/13-17/13

27

29

9

3

12/5-9/12

25

22

10

3

9/1-4/11

22

17

11

8

7/20-24/11

29

15

11

6

5/25-30/11

28

20

10

4

3/8-14/11

24

28

10

4

2/2-7/11

19

23

10

5

"Overall, which of the following best describes how the recession affected your own
personal financial situation? It had a major effect, and your finances have not recovered. It
had a major effect, but your finances have mostly recovered. It didn't have a major effect
on your finances."

9/4-8/13

28

37

2

1/11-16/12

28

33

4

3/8-14/11

24

34

2

2/2-7/11

25

37

1

McClatchy-Marist Poll. July 15-18, 2013. N=1,204 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.8.

"Do you think that the U.S. economy is currently in a recession or not?"

7/15-18/13

38

8

3/25-27/13

33

4

3/20-22/12

30

4

11/8-10/11

25

3

9/13-14/11

22

3

6/15-23/11

20

5

4/10-14/11

25

4

1/6-10/11

24

5

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. May 16-19, 2013. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Thinking about the next 12 months, would you say you feel optimistic or pessimistic about the state of the national economy?" Options rotated

5/16-19/13

41

5

12/13-16/12

49

3

2/19-22/09

50

2

12/11-14/08

50

3

"Thinking about the next 12 months, would you say you feel optimistic or pessimistic about your own family's financial situation?" Options rotated

5/16-19/13

29

5

12/13-16/12

30

4

2/19-22/09

31

3

12/11-14/08

29

2

Pew Research Center. March 13-17, 2013. N=752 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.2.

"Which of these best describes your opinion? The economy is recovering. The economy is not yet recovering but will recover soon. It will be a long time before the economy recovers."

3/13-17/13

31

40

2

10/24-28/12

31

36

3

9/12-16/12

30

43

1

2/8-12/12

29

44

3

3/30 - 4/3/11

24

54

2

2/2-7/11

33

42

2

12/1-5/10

33

48

2

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). Feb. 4-6, 2013. N=1,010 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Thinking about the condition of the national economy, do you think the worst is over or is the worst yet to come?"

2/4-6/13

52

7

2/6-9/12

48

10

2/7-9/11

48

5

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Nov. 1-3, 2012. N=1,475 likely voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.6.
LV = likely voters. Among registered voters, except where noted.

"Do you think the U.S. economy is recovering or is not recovering?"

11/1-3/12 LV

45

2

1

10/17-20/12

46

3

2

9/26-30/12

39

4

-

9/12-16/12

45

2

2

8/16-20/12

46

3

1

6/20-24/12 Adults

44

5

-

CNN/ORC Poll. Sept. 7-9, 2012. N=709 likely voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.
LV = likely voters. Among adults, expect where noted.

"And now I'd like you to compare your financial situation to what it was four years ago, during the last presidential election. Would you say that you are financially better off now than you were four years ago, or are you financially worse off?"

9/7-9/12 LV

42

19

1

5/29-31/12

43

11

1

CBS News Poll. Aug. 22-26, 2012. N=1,218 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Over the next few months, do you think the U.S. economy is probably headed into another recession, or do you think the U.S. economy is probably not headed into another recession?"

8/22-26/12

42

5

11

10/19-24/11

40

5

11

"Is your family financially better off today than it was four years ago, worse off financially, or is it about the same as it was four years ago?"

8/22-26/12

39

40

1

11/08

40

38

1

CNN/ORC Poll. Aug. 7-8, 2012. N=1,010 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of economic conditions today? The economy is starting to recover from the problems it faced in the past year or so. An economic recovery has not started but conditions have stabilized and are not getting any worse. The economy is still in a downturn and conditions are continuing to worsen."

8/7-8/12

41

39

4/13-15/12

42

33

8/5-7/11

31

60

4/9-10/11

38

36

10/5-7/10

44

38

4/9-11/10

46

34

1/22-24/10

49

39

12/2-3/09

46

39

10/16-18/09

50

33

6/26-28/09

48

40

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). June 24-26, 2012. N=912 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Do you think the nation's economy is getting better or worse?"

6/24-26/12

39

18

2

8/7-9/11

71

10

3

7/17-19/11

58

13

4

CNN/ORC Poll. May 29-31, 2012. N=1,009 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Next we are interested in how people's financial situation may have changed. Would you say that you are financially better off now than you were a year ago, or are you financially worse off?"

5/29-31/12

43

20

"And now I'd like you to compare your financial situation to what it was four years ago, during the last presidential election when George W. Bush was still president. Would you say that you are financially better off now than you were four years ago, or are you financially worse off?" N=503 (Version B), margin of error ± 4.5

5/29-31/12

41

12

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. May 17-20, 2012. N=1,004 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Thinking about your personal finances in the next few years, would you describe yourself as more hopeful, or as more anxious?" Options rotated

5/17-20/12

38

1

2

1

"Thinking about the national economy in the next few years, would you describe yourself as more hopeful, or as more anxious?" Options rotated

5/17-20/12

42

1

1

1

Quinnipiac University Poll. April 11-17, 2012. N=2,577 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 1.9.

"Are you better off or worse off financially today than you were four years ago?"

ALL

41

21

3

Republicans

55

19

2

Democrats

23

24

3

Independents

46

20

2

"During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal financial situation will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?"

ALL

13

51

4

Republicans

17

57

3

Democrats

7

50

4

Independents

14

49

4

"Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now?"

4/11-17/12

27

5

2/14-20/12

30

4

9/27 - 10/3/11

20

3

8/16-27/11

20

4

7/5-11/11

25

4

5/31 - 6/6/11

19

3

1/4-11/11

24

3

7/13-19/10

18

3

5/19-24/10

21

5

5/8-12/08

24

5

"Do you think the economy is beginning to recover or not?"

4/11-17/12

43

4

2/14-20/12

43

3

8/16-27/11

68

4

7/5-11/11

52

3

5/31 - 6/6/11

52

3

1/4-11/11

43

3

7/13-19/10

52

5

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. April 5-8, 2012. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"Do you think the country's economic recession is over, or do you think the economy is still in a recession?" Options rotated

4/5-8/12

76

4

"Regardless of whether or not the recession is over, would you say the economy in your area is improving, or not improving?"

4/5-8/12

49

3

CNN/ORC Poll. March 24-25, 2012. N=1,014 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Thinking specifically about the economy, which of the following is the most important economic issue facing the country today? Unemployment. The federal budget deficit. The price of gasoline.* Taxes. Mortgages and housing costs. The stock market." Options rotated.
*Prior to 8/11: "Rising gasoline prices."

Unemployment

38

38

Federal deficit

28

28

Price of gas

21

19

Taxes

4

6

Housing costs

6

5

Stock market

2

1

Other (vol.)

1

2

Unsure

1

-

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). March 10-12, 2012. N=912 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Do you see signs the nation's economy has started turning around, or not?"

3/10-12/12

40

2

CBS News/New York Times Poll. March 7-11, 2012. N=1,009 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Compared to four years ago, is your family's financial situation better today, worse today, or about the same?"

3/7-11/12

37

43

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Feb. 29-March 3, 2012. N=approx. 400 adults nationwide.

"Thinking about the country's economic recession, do you think the worst is behind us or the worst is ahead of us?"

2/29 - 3/3/12

36

2

5

11/2-5/11

44

2

5

7/14-17/11

45

3

6

6/9-13/11

41

3

4

11/11-15/10

35

2

3

8/26-30/10

45

4

6

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Feb. 16-19, 2012. N=1,014 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"Right now, do you think the U.S. economy is growing, slowing down, in a recession, or in an economic depression?"

2/16-19/12

13

27

19

2

4/20-23/11

16

26

29

1

9/26-27/08

27

36

33

1

1/30 - 2/2/08

46

33

12

2

"A year from now, do you think the U.S. economy will be growing, slowing down, in a recession, or in an economic depression?"

2/16-19/12

11

13

12

4

9/26-27/08

13

23

13

9

1/30 - 2/2/08

19

21

10

6

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). Jan. 12-14, 2012. N=906 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Do you see any signs the nation's economy has started to turn the corner and the worst is over, or not?"

1/12-14/12

56

4

11/13-15/11

68

3

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2011. N=1,004 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Would you say you, yourself, are better off financially than you were when Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?"

10/31 - 11/3/11

34

52

1

8/29 - 9/1/11

35

50

-

7/15-18/09

27

64

-

"How concerned are you about being able to maintain your current standard of living? Are you very worried, somewhat worried, not so worried or not worried at all?"