Business

13% Think They’ll Be Earning Less Money in a Year

Most Americans still consider themselves middle class, but slightly more now think they’ll be earning less money in a year’s time.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 13% of Employed Adults think they will be earning less money a year from now, up from an all-time low of six percent (6%) in February but more in line with regular surveying since early 2010. Forty-two percent (42%), though, still expect to be earning more, down only slightly from two months ago. Thirty-seven percent (37%) think they’ll be earning about the same amount next year. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 580 Employed Adults was conducted on March 31-April 1, 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.

40% Say Their Current Job Offers Better Advancement Opportunities

One-in-four workers are still not willing to commit to their current job. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 26% of Employed Adults are looking for a job outside of their current company, consistent with surveys for the past three years. A sizable majority (65%) still says it is not looking for a new job elsewhere, down six points from February. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 580 Employed Adults was conducted on March 31-April 1, 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.

47% Think It Will Take More Than Three Years For Housing Prices to Recover

Nearly half of American Adults think housing prices will still take several more years to recover, and few have high hopes for the stock market in the near future. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% think it will take housing prices more than three years to recover from the downturn that began in 2008. That's unchanged from a year ago but slightly more optimistic than Americans had been about the housing market since mid-2010.  Five percent (5%) think it will take only a year for house prices to recover; 12% say two years, and 18% think it will take another three years. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure. (To see question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 25-26, 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: Just 24% Think Economy Will Be Stronger in a Year

Short-term optimism about the nation's economic recovery has reached an all-time low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just one-in-four American Adults (24%) now think the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from now, down nine points from October and the lowest finding in over six years of regular surveying. Nearly twice as many (46%) expect a weaker economy in a year’s time, up from 41% in the previous survey. Twenty-two percent (22%) think the economy will remain about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 25-26, 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 Like Ford Better Than Chrysler, GM

Ford, the one Big Three automaker who didn't take a federal bailout, is still better liked than General Motors and Chrysler, and a sizable number of Americans continue to say their buying patterns are dictated by those bailouts.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults still have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Ford, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-three percent (23%) have an unfavorable opinion. This includes 25% with a Very Favorable opinion of the company, and six percent (6%) with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 March 23-24, 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.

32% Say It’s a Good Time to Sell a Home

A third of Americans continue to say now is a good time for someone to sell a home where they live, but just half think buying a home is a family's best investment.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of American Adults think now is a good time for someone in their area to sell a house. That’s unchanged from February and remains down from September’s all-time high of 39%. Forty-six percent (46%) don’t think now is a good time for someone to sell, while 22% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

New Low: 18% Say Their Home Worth Less Than When They Bought It

Homeowners remain confident they know how much their homes are worth in today’s market, and fewer than ever report their home has lost value. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of homeowners say their home is worth more today than when they first bought it. That’s down slightly from the past several months. But just 18% now say their home is worth less today, down from 24% and the lowest level measured since regular tracking began in April 2011. Twenty-one percent (21%) say their home’s value is about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 668 Adult Homeowners was conducted on March 19-20, 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.

36% Expect Their Home’s Value To Go Up In Next Year

Confidence in the housing market remains stable at levels seen since early last year. The number of homeowners who say their home is worth more than what they owe on their mortgage has decreased slightly.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% feel the value of their home is more than what they owe. That is down from 61% in February but is higher than the 53% measured in January, the lowest level of confidence at the beginning of a year since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking on this question in April 2009. Twenty-eight percent (28%) now say their home is not worth more than they owe, unchanged from the previous survey. Fourteen percent (14%) 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 668 Adult Homeowners was conducted on March 19-20, 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.

69% Think Middle Class Pays Larger Share in Taxes Than Wealthy Do

Americans believe even more strongly that the middle class incurs a larger tax burden than the wealthy do, but just half favor having everyone pay the same percentage of their income in taxes.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of American Adults believe middle-class Americans currently pay a larger share of their income in taxes than wealthy people do. Just 21% think wealthy Americans pay a larger share of their income in taxes. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 17-18, 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.

24% Say They Are Paying Higher Interest Rates Than A Year Ago

More Americans say they owe more money than they did a year ago, and the highest number in nearly two years say they are paying higher interest rates.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of American Adults owe more money than they did a year ago. That’s up from 28% in February and the highest level measured since November 2012. An equal number(31%) say they owe less money than they did last year at this time, up one point from last month which was the lowest finding since July 2012. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say their level of debt is 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 American Adults was conducted on March 15-16, 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.

51% Have Filed Their Income Taxes

With less than a month left until Tax Day, half of Americans have filed their income taxes, and nearly that many expect a refund.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults have filed their income taxes. Thirty-eight percent (38%) have not but plan do so by the April 15 deadline. Just three percent (3%) say they’ll get an extension. (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 March 17-18, 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.

41% Say Expanding Overtime Pay Will Hurt Businesses

President Obama ordered the Labor Department last week to revise federal rules to allow more workers to qualify for overtime pay.  Voters have mixed feelings about how this change will impact the economy, but they are more pessimistic about its impact on businesses.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters believe increasing the number of people eligible for overtime pay will help the economy. Nearly as many (34%) think this change will hurt the economy instead. Fourteen percent (14%) believe expanding overtime will have no economic impact, while just as many (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 16-17, 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.

84% Are Paying More For Groceries Than a Year Ago

Most Americans remain concerned about inflation, with the number who say they are paying more for groceries at its highest level in a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 84% of American Adults report paying more for groceries today than a year ago, up eight points from 76% last month. That’s the highest since last March when 86% said they were paying more for groceries. Just 10% say they are not paying more. (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 March 15-16, 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.

51% Remain Confident in U.S. Banking System

Confidence in U.S. banks remains down slightly from its beginning-of-the-year high.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry for the second month in a row, while 45% are not. This includes 10% who are Very Confident and 11% who are Not At All Confident in the banking system. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 15-16, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confide

Americans Still Think Government Workers Have It Better

Most Americans still believe private sector workers work harder than government employees but have less job security. One-out-of-two think government workers make more money, too.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just six percent (6%) of American Adults think government employees work harder than those in the private sector, down four points from January and the lowest finding since last June. Consistent with regular surveying since 2010 are the 64% who think private sector employees work harder. Thirty percent (30%) are not sure. (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 or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 3-4, 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.

37% Say More Government Hiring Would Be Good For Economy

Most Americans continue to oppose extended government help for the long-term unemployed, although fewer see an increase in government hiring as a bad thing for the U.S. economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 12% of American Adults believe the government should extend unemployment benefits indefinitely for those who can’t find work for an extended period of time. Just as many (11%) think the government should hire those who can’t find work for an extended period. But a third (34%) prefer the short-term solution of paying for their retraining, while another third (34%) think the government should do nothing at all for the long-term unemployed. (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 March 3-4, 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% Know Someone Who Has Given Up Looking for A Job

Americans are less optimistic about the job market than they were at the start of the year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of American Adults know someone who is out of work and looking for a job. While that’s up just one point from two months ago, it’s the highest level measured since February of last year. (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 March 3-4, 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. 

Rasmussen Employment Index Gains Two Points in February

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence rose two points in February, continuing the upward trend it began in November.

At 92.1, worker confidence is at its highest level since June but is still down two points from the all-time high of 94.4 in May of last year. The index hit a low for 2013 of 81.2 in October. It stood at 85.6 in February a year ago.

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The survey of 9,237 working Americans was conducted in February 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

20% Expect to Use a Digital Currency Like Bitcoin In Next Five Years

The majority of Americans have never used Bitcoin, the peer-to-peer payment system and digital currency, and most do not plan on using the system within the next five years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only two percent (2%) of American Adults have used Bitcoin to date. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 25-26, 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.

45% Oppose Minimum Wage Hike If It Costs Jobs, 39% Still Favor

Overall support for raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour has fallen following a new Congressional Budget Office report that measures the impact of the wage hike on the economy. Support dips even lower when Americans are made aware of the potential for lost jobs.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults now favor raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. That’s down from 55% in late January and 61% last July. Thirty-nine percent (39%) oppose raising the minimum wage to that level, showing no change from last month. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 23-24, 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.