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Americans Still Wonder if Fed Can Handle Inflation

Americans remain highly concerned about inflation and continue to wonder if the Federal Reserve Board has the ability to keep it under control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of American Adults are concerned about inflation, consistent with monthly surveying for the past three years. This finding includes 37% who are Very Concerned. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not concerned about inflation, but that includes only four percent (4%) who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey questions wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 19-20, 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.

53% Are Confident in U.S. Banking Industry

Just over half of Americans express confidence in the nation's banking system again this month.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including 12% who are Very Confident. That’s up slightly from 50% in July. Forty-three percent (43%) are not confident in the banking industry, with 13% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 19-20, 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.

Americans Still Think A Home is Family’s Best Investment

Over half of Americans continue to say a home is a family's best investment, but more think it is not a good time for someone in their area to be selling their home.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults now say that buying a home is the best investment most families can make, down slightly from July. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree, while 22% are undecided. These are generally in line with findings for the past few years. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 17-18, 2014 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.

Most Still Don’t Support Government Help on Mortgage Payments

Most homeowners have not been late on a mortgage payment recently and don’t expect to be anytime soon. But for those who are still struggling to make their payments, most Americans don’t think the government should step in and help.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 24% of American Adults believe that if someone cannot afford to make increased mortgage payments, the government should assist them. That’s up slightly from June’s low of 21% but similar to findings earlier in the year. Most (63%) still think people in that situation should sell their home and find a less expensive one. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. This is in line with regular surveying since the spring of 2010. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 640 Adult Homeowners and 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 17-18, 2014 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.

Confidence in Short-Term Housing Market Slips to 2014 Low

Homeowners are slightly less confident than they’ve been in over a year that their home’s value will increase in the short-term. Confidence in their home's current value has fallen back as well. Thirty-four percent (34%) of U.S. homeowners now think the value of their home will go up in the next year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down four points from July and is the lowest level of confidence measured since July of last year. Fourteen percent (14%) expect the value of their home to go down over the next year, while 48% still expect it to stay about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 640 Adult Homeowners was conducted on August 17-18, 2014 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.

Most Think Feds Too Big a Presence in Their Lives

Most Americans believe the federal government butts in to Americans’ lives too much.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults believe the federal government plays too big a role in the lives of average Americans. Only eight percent (8%) think the feds play too small a role, while 22% think the level of government involvement is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

Americans Like the Look of Their Next Job

Americans are more optimistic about their job prospects than they have been for most of the past five years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Employed Adults believe their next job will be better than their current one, up two points from June and the highest level of confidence since May 2012. This finding has generally been in the high 20s and low to mid-30s since early 2009. Only 13% think their next job will not be better, while 22% plan to retire when they leave their current employer. Just as many (21%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 583 Employed Adults was conducted on July 28-29, 2014 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.

Americans See More Money Coming Their Way

More Americans than ever are optimistic that in one year’s time they will be earning more money.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Employed Adults believe they will be making more money a year from today. That’s up two points from June's previous high of 48% and the highest finding in over five years of regular tracking. Just eight percent (8%) expect to earn less next year. Thirty-five percent (35%) think they’ll be making about the same amount, the lowest finding since April 2009. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 583 Employed Adults was conducted on July 28-29, 2014 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.

Americans View Poverty As A Bigger Trap Than Ever

Even as thousands of new illegal immigrants flood over the border, more Americans than ever doubt whether it is possible for most people in this country to escape being poor. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults still believe it is possible for just about anyone in the United States to work their way out of poverty. That’s consistent with findings since April of last year but down from the high 40s and low 50s for several years prior to that. However, 40% now think it is not possible for just about anyone to escape poverty, up just two points from 38% in March but the highest finding in regular surveying since January 2009 just after the Wall Street meltdown. Sixteen percent (16%) more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on July 18-19, 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.

44% Believe Economy Will Be Weaker A Year From Now

Is this the new normal? Americans continue to hold a gloomy assessment of the economy’s chances for improvement in both the short- and long-term.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults believe the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from now. That’s virtually unchanged from 24% in March, the lowest level of optimism recorded in regular tracking since early January 2009 following the Wall Street meltdown. This finding has generally run in the mid-30s to low 40s for most of the last five-and-a-half years.

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on July 18-19, 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 High: 34% Owe More Money Than They Did A Year Ago

More Americans than ever say they owe more money than they did last year, and they’re more pessimistic about their future interest rates.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of American Adults now owe more money than they did last year, up from 32% last month and the highest finding in regular surveying since April 2009. Slightly fewer (31%) owe less now, while 33% say they owe about the same amount as they did last year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on July 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.

Americans Still Strongly Fear Inflation and Expect to Pay for It

With inflation worries at recent highs, the number of Americans who are paying more for groceries also has risen to its highest level in over two years. There's an increasing lack of confidence, too, that the Federal Reserve Board can keep inflation under control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 88% of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries this year than the year before. This finding is up six points from last month and the highest since May 2012. Only seven percent (7%) say they are not paying more than they were a year ago, the lowest finding since January 2012. Five percent (5%) 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 July 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.

36% Say Now’s a Good Time to Sell a House

Fewer Americans now believe it’s a good time to sell a house in their area, although most still consider buying one a good investment.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of American Adults now say this is a good time for someone in their area to sell a home. That’s down eight points from last month’s high of 44% and back to the level seen in May. Still, it remains far more optimistic than Americans have been in most surveys since the spring of 2009. Thirty-nine percent (39%) disagree and say it’s not a good time to sell a house. That's up from 32% in June, but this figure has generally run in the 40s for more than a year now. One-in-four (25%) are now 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 July 12-13, 2014 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.

Voters Still Down on Financial Bailouts

Half of U.S. voters continue to believe the government bailouts of the financial industry were a bad move.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters say, looking back, the bailouts of the financial industry were bad for the United States. Thirty-one percent (31%) say the bailouts were good for the country, while 19% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 11-12, 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.

50% Have Confidence in Nation’s Banks

The fallout from the 2008 Wall Street meltdown continues: Just this week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the largest civil penalty paid to date by a U.S. bank for illegal dealings in the period prior to the meltdown - $7 billion paid by Citicorp. After Americans’ confidence in the U.S. banking system reached a post-meltdown high in January, it has now fallen back to levels seen for much of the last five years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 50% of American Adults now are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the nation’s banks, and that includes only nine percent (9%) who are Very Confident. Forty-five percent (45%) are not confident in the banking industry, with 12% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on July 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.

Number Who Say Their Home Worth More Now Is At Three-Year High

Homeowners are more confident about their home’s appreciation than they’ve been in several years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 84% of Adult Homeowners are at least somewhat confident that they know how much their home is worth in the housing market today. Twelve percent (12%) are not. That includes 51% who are Very Confident they know their home’s worth and just three percent (3%) who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 663 Adult Homeowners was conducted on July 12-13, 2014 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.

Americans Question Motown’s Chances for Recovery

Even as Detroiters vote on a bankruptcy plan that would make major cuts in retired public employee benefits, voters nationwide aren’t overly optimistic about the Motor City’s chances of recovery. There’s less concern, though, that other cities will follow Detroit into bankruptcy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 37% of American Adults think it is at least somewhat likely that Detroit will emerge from bankruptcy in the next five to 10 years and be a financially stable, well-run city. Forty-six percent (46%) consider that unlikely. This includes just seven percent (7%) who believe it’s Very Likely that Detroit will be back on its feet in the short term and 12% who say it’s Not At All Likely. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 10-11, 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. Seemethodology.

New High: 64% Say Their Home Worth More Than What They Owe

A record number of homeowners say their home is worth more than what they still owe on it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of American homeowners feel the value of their home is now more than what they owe on their mortgage. That’s up four points from 60% in June  and is the highest finding in over five years of regular surveying. Twenty-four percent (24%) say their home is not worth more than what they owe, but that's down five points from June and the lowest finding since December. Eleven percent (11%) 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 663 Adult Homeowners was conducted on July 12-13, 2014 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.

Just 23% Think Unemployment Rate Will Be Lower Next Year

Optimism in the future job market in America is down this month, as fewer Americans believe the unemployment rate will go down over the next year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 23% of American Adults think, a year from today, unemployment will be lower than it is today. That’s the lowest level of optimism since December 2011. Thirty-two percent (32%) think unemployment will be higher in a year, a new high for the 2014. Just as many (35%) think it will stay about the same. Ten percent (10%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 1-2, 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.

Common Core Support Among Those with School-Age Kids Plummets

Support for Common Core among Americans with school-age children has fallen dramatically, as more now question whether the new national education standards will actually improve student performance.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 34% of American Adults with children of elementary or secondary school age now favor requiring all schools nationwide to meet the same Common Core education standards. That’s an 18-point drop from 52% in early November of last year. Forty-seven percent (47%) oppose the imposition of the national standards, compared to 32% in the previous survey. Little changed are the 19% who are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 21-22, 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.