Regardless of their views on the content of any major deficit reduction plan, voters do not expect any significant reduction in federal government spending before next year’s election.
Most Americans still don’t believe the government should help those who can’t afford to make their mortgage payments.
Fifty percent (50%) of Americans think President Obama and Congress should consider a mix of spending cuts and tax increases in looking for ways to cut the federal deficit, but nearly two-out-of-three adults (64%) are unwilling to pay higher taxes themselves to reduce that deficit.
For the fourth straight month, less than half of adults nationwide believe buying a home is the best possible investment for a family.
The percentage of American homeowners whose home is worth less than what they still owe on it has hit the highest level in nearly three years.
Homeowners remain very pessimistic about the potential short- and long-term values of their homes.
While the economy continues to stumble along, fewer Americans than ever report they owe more money than they did a year ago.
Half of American Adults (48%) think labor unions have outlasted their usefulness, but there’s a sharp difference of opinion between Republicans and Democrats on the question.
Most Americans remain concerned about inflation and lack confidence in the Federal Reserve Board to keep it under control.
Confidence in America’s banking system has rebounded slightly from last month’s record low, but less than half of adults nationwide remain assured in the stability of the industry.
The number of working Americans who classify themselves as poor has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years, while the number of middle class workers ties the all-time high.
A sizable majority still favors across-the-board spending cuts in the federal budget, but voters remain slightly less enthusiastic about including the military in those cuts.
A plurality of American workers is still confident their next job will be better than their current one, but most aren’t searching for other work.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of Republicans nationwide say the U.S. economy is in poor shape and 68% of those not affiliated with either major party agree. However, data from the Rasmussen Consumer Index shows that Democrats aren’t quite as pessimistic. Just 49% of those in President Obama’s party is in poor shape.
Most Americans continue to believe today’s children will not be better off than their parents, but they are a bit more optimistic about the possibility of someone working their way out of poverty.
Americans are more pessimistic than ever that the U.S. economy will improve during the next year.
A majority of voters nationwide like the idea of state governments offering jobs instead of welfare payments to those seeking work.
Fewer adults nationwide say they’re paying more to fill up their gas tanks compared to six months ago, though a strong majority still expects to be paying more in the near future.
The Rasmussen Employment Index, which measures workers’ perceptions of the labor market each month, slipped a point in August to the lowest level measured in one year.
Most Americans think businesses should focus on the greater good of their fellow citizens, not just those on the inside.
