Business

January 6, 2010

Discover® U.S. Spending MonitorSM Drops 3.3 Points in December

The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor fell 3.3 points in December to 83.0 (based out of 100). The decline was primarily driven by a big decrease in post- holiday spending intentions from consumers. While the decrease in spending intentions was anticipated, consumers showed little improvement in economic confidence in December and they grew slightly more pessimistic about their finances. These contributing factors leave the Monitor's index standing at a nine-month low.

January 6, 2010

65% Predict Three Years or More For Housing Market To Recover

Americans start the new year with a bleak assessment of the housing market’s prospects for recovery.

January 5, 2010

38% Expect Economy to Be Stronger in a Year, 39% Say Weaker

Hope for a stronger economy has declined in recent months, with pessimism up sharply from a year ago.

January 2, 2010

Public Way Ahead of Treasury Officials On Housing Crisis

The New York Times reports that “the Obama administration’s $75 billion program to protect homeowners from foreclosure has been widely pronounced a disappointment, and some economists and real estate experts now contend it has done more harm than good.”

January 1, 2010

50% Expect U.S. Will Be In Recession At End of 2010

Fifty percent (50%) of Americans believe the country will still be in recession at the end of 2010, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

December 28, 2009

Small Business Confidence Steady in December

Economic confidence among America's small business owners was steady in December as fewer of them believed the U.S. economy was getting worse compared to November, and more saw conditions for their own businesses getting better in the next six months, according to the Discover Small Business Watch. The Watch index improved slightly in December to 77.0 from 76.5 in November.

December 28, 2009

Two Economies: Government Workers Optimistic, Private Sector Not

Government employees are much more bullish about the economy than those who work in the private sector. That’s a big change from the beginning of the year when those on the public payroll were a bit more pessimistic than private sector workers.

December 27, 2009

Americans More Wary of Using Credit Cards Online

With the Christmas shopping season over, Americans admit to being less comfortable using their credit cards online than in past years as their worries about identity theft remain high.

December 26, 2009

For First Time, Plurality Believes Stimulus Plan Hurt the Economy

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% of voters nationwide believe the $787-billion economic stimulus plan has helped the economy. However, 38% believe that the stimulus plan has hurt the economy. This is the first time since the legislation passed that a plurality has held a negative view of its impact.

December 22, 2009

28% Using Postal Service Less This Holiday Season

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Americans say they are using the U.S. Postal Service less this holiday season than in past years, but adults overwhelmingly believe there will still be a need for the Postal Service 10 years from now.

December 16, 2009

24% Favor National Sales Tax, 65% Oppose

The New York Times reports that “economists across the political spectrum say a consumption tax may be inevitable once the economy fully recovers.”

December 15, 2009

59% Say Average Government Worker Earns More Than Average Taxpayer

Compared to the average government worker, most Americans think they work harder, have less job security and make less money.

December 15, 2009

52% Oppose Further Regulation of U.S. Financial System

Americans remain opposed to further government regulation of the U.S. financial system, even as President Obama and congressional Democrats move closer to passage of legislation that will give the government more oversight than ever.

December 8, 2009

Most Americans Oppose Second Stimulus and Using Bailout Funds for States

President Obama hopes to use money still unspent from the $787-billion economic stimulus plan to fight the nation’s 10% unemployment rate, and one of the ideas on the table is to channel money to states to keep them from laying off public employees.

December 8, 2009

76% Prefer Free Market Economy

Support for a free market economy remains strong despite the extended recession and last fall’s Wall Street meltdown.

December 7, 2009

Just 15% Favor Higher Gas Tax To Fund More Transportation Projects

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently floated the idea of increasing the federal tax on gasoline as a way to meet Congress’ growing list of transportation projects, but most Americans are cool to the idea.

December 7, 2009

67% Expect Unemployment Will Be The Same or Higher A Year From Now

Despite President Obama’s highly-publicized jobs summit late last week and a slight drop in the national unemployment rate to 10%, Americans remain pessimistic about the jobs situation.

December 4, 2009

79% Now Favor Auditing the Fed

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday voiced his opposition to legislation calling for regular audits of the Fed’s monetary policies, but 79% of Americans think auditing the Fed is a good idea.

December 2, 2009

Just 21% Favor Bernanke’s Reappointment As Fed Chairman

Ben Bernanke begins the formal process tomorrow for confirmation to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, but 41% of Americans think President Obama should name someone new to the post.