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68% Say Government Not Tough Enough on Wall Street Crime

Several employees of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff are going on trial this week for their part in orchestrating one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history, but many Americans still believe others in the financial industry are getting away with too much.

Just 14% of American Adults believe the federal government has been aggressive enough in pursuing possible criminal behavior on Wall Street, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-eight percent (68%) don’t think the federal government has been aggressive enough in this area. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 7-8, 2013 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.

28% Think Doctors Are Paid Too Much

Most Americans recognize the importance of the medical profession, but nearly three-out-of-10 think doctors make too much money.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think being a doctor is one of the most important jobs in the country today. Thirty percent (30%) disagree. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 5-6, 2013 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.

62% Think U.S. Likely To Default on Debt

Americans are more fearful of another economic meltdown these days, and belief that the U.S. government will default on its debt has jumped from six months ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American adults now think it is at least somewhat likely that the United States soon will face another financial industry meltdown similar to the 2008 crisis, with 35% who say it is Very Likely. In April, 59% felt another meltdown is likely in the near future, including 26% who said it is Very Likely.

Twenty-two percent (22%) believe another meltdown is unlikely anytime soon, but that includes only two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 7-8, 2013 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.

66% of Workers Consider Themselves Middle Class

Many working Americans expect to earn more money a year from now, and most continue to consider themselves middle class.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Working Americans believe their earnings will be higher a year from today, up from 39% in August and the highest level of optimism since the beginning of the year. Thirteen percent (13%) expect to earn less in a year's time, while 39% believe their earnings will be about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 678 Employed Adults was conducted on October 1-2, 2013 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 Working Somewhere Else Offers Better Career Opportunities

American workers are evenly divided over whether their current employer offers them the best chance for advancement, but most are staying put for now. One-in-four Employed Americans (24%) is looking for work outside his or her current company, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-two percent (72%) are not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 1-2, 2013 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. 

64% Think Spending Cuts Best for Economy

Voters remain closely divided over how involved the government should get in the economy, but they continue to believe strongly that cutting spending is the best economic course to follow. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters are more worried that the government will do too much in reacting to current economic problems. Slightly more (47%) worry that the government won’t do enough. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 18-19, 2013 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.

Voters Question Fed’s Independence

With a change of leadership pending, voters remain skeptical of the Federal Reserve’s independence and continue to think the nation’s central bank is overly influenced by the president and big bankers.

Forty-two percent (42%) of Likely U.S. Voters now have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the Federal Reserve, while 48% view it unfavorably, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 11% with a Very Favorable opinion and 19% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 18-19, 2013 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.

58% Expect Higher Interest Rates Next Year

Most Americans continue to expect higher interest rates in a year’s time, while the number already paying higher rates remains at a high.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults think interest rates will be higher in a year. That’s up two points from August and the highest level of pessimism since early 2011. From July 2009 to early May 2011, this finding generally remained in the mid-to-high 50s but stayed in the 40s over the past couple years. 

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 15-16, 2013 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: 39% Say Now Is A Good Time To Sell A House

While only half of Americans continue to think purchasing a home is a family’s best investment, more than ever believe now is a good time to sell. 

Fifty percent (50%) of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment most families can make, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree, while 22% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 13-14, 2013 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% Are Confident Fed Can Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Down

As the conversation heats up over who will be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, confidence in the system’s ability to keep inflation under control remains low. 

Just 36% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident that the Federal Reserve Board can keep interest rates down and inflation under control, including six percent (6%) who are Very Confident. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 58% lack that confidence, with 17% 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 September 15-16, 2013 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% Lack Confidence in Stability of U.S. Banking Industry

Five years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, half of Americans still lack confidence in the stability of the nation’s banking system. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults say they are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, but that includes only seven percent (7%) who are Very Confident.  Fifty percent (50%) lack confidence in the banking industry today, with 14% 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 September 15-16, 2013 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. 

14% Likely to Miss or Be Late With A Mortgage Payment in Next Six Months

Most homeowners continue to say they have not missed a mortgage payment in the last six months, but their outlook for the next six months is less optimistic. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just five percent (5%) of American Homeowners admit to missing a mortgage payment or paying late over the last six months. Eighty-nine percent (89%) have not missed or been late on a payment, though this is the first time that number has dipped below 90% since March 2011.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 661 Homeowners was conducted on September 13-14, 2013 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. 

45% Think Their Home Will Be Worth More In Five Years

Short-term confidence in the housing market continues to hover around its highest level in years, but homeowners remain more confident in long-term recovery.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of Adult Homeowners say the value of their home will likely go up in a year.  That’s consistent with findings for the last several months and just a point lower than an all-time high of 37% reached in April and June. Short-term confidence hit a low of 11% in July 2011. Twenty percent (20%) now feel their home’s value will go down in the next 12 months, but just 12% felt that way in July.  A plurality (42%) expects their home's value to stay about the same.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 661 Homeowners was conducted on September 13-14, 2013 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. 

48% Say Government Workers Earn More Than Those in Private Sector

Americans continue to believe that government workers have it better than those employed in the private sector, but those sentiments are a bit softer this month.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of American Adults believe the average government worker earns more annually than the average private sector worker, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 25% don’t believe that to be true, while 28% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

Congress Is Least Favorable Profession

Entrepreneurs and small business owners rate highest in the public's mind, while members of Congress are still at the other end of the scale. 

When Rasmussen Reports asks Americans their opinion of nine major professions, 54% express a Very Favorable opinion of people who start their own businesses, according to a new national telephone survey. Nearly as many (52%) say the same of small business owners. Just two percent (2%) view each of these professions Very Unfavorably. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 3-4, 2013 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% Think Government Should Do Nothing for Long-Term Unemployed

More adults than ever think the government should step back from aiding those who can’t find work after an extended period of time. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of American Adults think the government should help out the long-term unemployed in a big way, with nine percent (9%) who say their unemployment benefits should be extended indefinitely and 10% who say the government should just hire them. Twenty-five percent (25%) prefer the short-term government solution of paying for their retraining, the lowest level of support since October 2011. 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 1-2, 2013 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.

38% Oppose Raising Federal Debt Ceiling

Voters expect Congress and President Obama to reach an agreement to raise the government’s debt ceiling by October 1, but they’re evenly divided over whether that’s a good idea.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s at least somewhat likely that the debt ceiling will be raised before the federal government begins defaulting on its debts. This includes 44% who feel it’s Very Likely. Just 13% say it’s not very or Not At All Likely that the debt ceiling will be raised in time. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 2-3, 2013 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.

25% Say U.S. Job Market Better Than Year Ago, 31% Say Worse

Americans are more pessimistic about the U.S. job market than they've been all year. 

Only 25% of American Adults now believe the job market is better than it was a year ago, down from 29% in late June but comparable to findings a year ago. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% believe the job market is worse today than it was a year ago, a five-point jump from 26% in June and the highest finding since December. In August of last year, though, 44% thought the job market was worse. Forty percent (40%) now say the job market's about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The surveys of 1,000 Adults each were conducted on September 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for each survey 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% Have Favorable View of Unions, 45% Unfavorable

Americans continue to have closely divided views of organized labor, but there's a much clearer difference of opinion between Republicans and Democrats.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults have at least a somewhat favorable impression of labor unions, but that includes just 14% with a Very Favorable opinion.  Forty-five percent (45%) view labor unions unfavorably, with 24% who have a Very Unfavorable impression of them.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 26-27, 2013 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.

49% Say Buying A Home Is A Family’s Best Bet

Only half of Americans still see purchasing a house as a family’s best investment, but the belief that now is a good time to be a seller is up. 

Forty-nine percent (49%) of American Adults think buying a home is the best investment most families can make, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree, while nearly as many (23%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 20-21, 2013 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.