Business

51% See A Home As A Family’s Best Investment

Just over half of Americans believe a home is a family’s best investment, but most still don’t think it’s a good time for someone to sell their house.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment most families can make.  Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree, but another 22% are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on August 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

36% Say Economy Will Be Weaker A Year From Now

Short- and long-term confidence in the nation’s economy continues to hover around 2012 lows. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of American Adults think the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from today, but slightly more (36%) believe it will be weaker in a year's time.  Seventeen percent (17%) think economic conditions in the country will stay about the same. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on August 21-22, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

26% Say Their Home Worth Less Than When They Bought It

Most U.S. homeowners are confident they know the current value of their home and think it’s worth more than when they bought it. But one-in-four say their home is worth less now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of Americans who own a home are confident they know how much the house is worth in today’s market. That includes 43% who are Very Confident. Just 16% are not very or Not At All Confident that they know what their house is worth. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 743 Adult Homeowners was conducted on August 19-20, 2012 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.

24% Think Their House Will Be Worth Less Five Years From Now

Short- and long-term confidence in housing values remains low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 23% of homeowners believe the value of their home will go up over the next year.  That’s up from 18% last month but more in line with findings earlier this year. Slightly more (29%) think the value of their home will go down. That's the highest level of pessimism since March but less negative than views for most of 2011. A plurality (45%) believes their home value will stay about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 743 Adult Homeowners was conducted on August 19-20, 2012 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 More Optimistic About Their Financial Security In August

Americans are feeling better about their finances this month than one year ago when their confidence hit an all-time low, according to the COUNTRY Financial Security Index®. The Index inched up 0.8 points to 65.9 in August after slipping 1.1 points in June. This comes exactly one year after the Index reached its lowest reading ever at 62.4. This uptick in confidence also marks the first August increase since 2008 and the highest August Index reading since that year.

Voters Still See Cuts in Taxes, Spending As Better for Economy

Voters continue to view tax and spending cuts as beneficial to the economy even though they lack confidence in their elected leaders to follow through.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters think tax cuts help the economy. Just 16% believe tax cuts hurt the economy, while just as many (16%) say they have no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 16-17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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44% Fear Government Won’t Do Enough For Troubled Economy

Voters remain closely divided in their concern over whether the government will do too much or too little to help the troubled economy. But most still prefer spending cuts as an economic boost.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now say, in reacting to the nation’s economic problems, what worries them most is that the federal government will not do enough. Forty-one percent (41%) are more worried the government will do too much. Fifteen percent (15%) more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 18-19, 2012 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.

Just 15% Are Paying Higher Interest Rates Than A Year Ago

Fewer adults than ever now report than they are paying higher interest rates than they were one year ago, and expectations that those rates will be higher in a year's time are at their lowest level this year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% now say they are paying higher interest rates than they were a year ago. That's down from 22% in July and the lowest finding in over three years of regular surveying on the question. The same number (15%) also report that they are paying lower rates than a year ago, but most (57%) say they are paying about the same rate. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on August 11-12, 2012 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.

Most Americans Underestimate the Tax Burden

One of the more remarkable features of the political landscape remains the fact that most Americans believe the nation is overtaxed while dramatically underestimating the actual level of taxes paid.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey confirms that finding. If a person earns $60,000 a year, only 11% think that person would pay more than $15,000 in payroll and income taxes. In reality, while the amount would vary depending upon the circumstances of the individual, the actual tax burden would be higher than that amount.

As a starting point, such a salary would generate $4,590 in payroll taxes. Recommended withholding for such a salary range from $7,000 to $10,000 before inclusion of state taxes. Overall, even if the worker only paid 17% in combined state and federal income taxes, their total payments would top the $15,000 mark.

Nine percent (9%) think the total tax bill would be less than $5,000 annually. That barely covers the cost of the payroll taxes. Twenty-seven percent (27%) think the total would be between $5,000 and $10,000, while 17% estimate a tax burden between $10,000 and $15,000. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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37% Are Confident in Fed To Keep Inflation Under Control

At a time when most Americans report they’re paying more for groceries compared to last year, confidence in the Federal Reserve Board’s ability to keep inflation under control has fallen to a new low for 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident that the Fed can keep inflation under control and interest rates down, but that includes just nine percent (9%) who are Very Confident.  Fifty-seven percent (57%) lack confidence in the Fed, with 19% who are Not At All Confident.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

43% Think Extension of Bush Tax Cuts Likely, 46% Disagree

Most voters want to continue the so-called Bush tax cuts, but they aren’t convinced that President Obama and Congress will extend those tax cuts by the end of the year when they expire.

Only 43% of Likely U.S. Voters, in fact, think it’s even somewhat likely that Congress and the president will reach an agreement before year’s end that extends the Bush administration tax cuts. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% think such an extension is unlikely.

Those figures include just nine percent (9%) who feel and extension of the Bush tax cuts is Very Likely and 13% who view it as Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on August 10-11, 2012 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% Are Confident in Stability of U.S. Banking Industry

The number of Americans who are confident in the U.S. banking system remains below 50%, but most still aren’t worried they will lose money due to a bank failure.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 44% are confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including just 11% who are Very Confident. Fifty-one percent (51%) don’t share this confidence, with 11% who are Not At All Confident in the banking system. (To see survey question wording,  click here.)

The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on August 11-12, 2012 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 Put Spending Cuts Ahead of Deficit Reduction But See Those Cuts as Unlikely

Voters still rate spending cuts as more important than reducing the deficit, but hardly anybody expects the government to cut spending over the next few years. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is more important to cut government spending than it is to reduce the federal budget deficit. Forty percent (40%) disagree and think it is more important to reduce the deficit first. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

56% Say Bailouts Of Financial Industry Bad For U.S.

U.S. voters continue to have a more positive view of the government auto bailouts than they do of the ones given to the financial sector.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters view the bailouts of the U.S. financial industry as bad for the country. Just 25% think those bailouts were a good thing for America. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on August 8-9, 2012 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 Federal Government Shouldn’t Hire More People

While the U.S. unemployment rate inched up in July, more Americans than ever think it will hurt the nation’s economy if the federal government hires more people to compensate. At the same time, the number of adults who feel unemployment benefits should be extended indefinitely is at an all-time low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of American Adults now think if the federal government hires more people, it will be bad for the economy, up from 43% in early June and the highest level measured since regular tracking began in late October 2010. Thirty-three percent (33%) say it will be a good economic move if the government hires more people, while 12% believe it will have no impact.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Americans Dramatically Underestimate Cost of Employer Payroll Taxes

Voters believe America is overtaxed even though most Americans seriously underestimate the amount of taxes they actually pay.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 54% of American Adults recognize that employers pay additional taxes on top of the wages paid to an employee. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

44% Say Jobs Market Worse Than A Year Ago

Confidence in the U.S. job market has fallen again, with the highest number of Americans in 10 months describing the employment situation as worse than it was a year ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 24% of American Adults believe the job market is better than a year ago. Forty-four percent (44%) say that market is worse now, up 15 points from early June when only 29% felt that way. Thirty percent (30%) describe it as about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

New Low: Just 14% Think Today’s Children Will Be Better Off Than Their Parents

Hope for the future generation has reached an all-time low. Just 14% of Americans expect today’s children to be better off than their parents. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of American Adults do not expect today’s children to be better off than their parents. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not sure what to expect. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on July 22-23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

56% Say Housing Market Will Take More Than Three Years to Fully Recover

Pessimism about the recovery of housing prices and the stock market remains at or near record highs.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of American Adults believe it will take more than three years for the stock market to recover from the downturn in 2008. That’s up from 40% in June.  This is now the highest level of pessimism in over three years, although it should be noted that this is only the second time the question was posed specifically referencing the 2008 downturn as opposed to referring to "the recent downturn."  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

Similarly, 56% believe it will take more than three years for housing prices to recover from the 2008 downturn. This is virtually unchanged from 57% last month which marked the gloomiest assessment of the housing market since regular tracking began in early 2009.  Again, however, it should be noted that this is just the second time the question referred specifically to the downturn in 2008.

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on July 22-23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Long-Term Optimism About U.S. Economy Falls to New Low

Confidence that the U.S. economy will recover in the next five years has fallen to its lowest level since early 2009. Short-term confidence isn't much better.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that just 31% believe the U.S. economy will be stronger in one year. Thirty-five percent (35%) predict a weaker economy by next year, and 18% more say it will be about the same. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on July 22-23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.