Recent News http://www.rasmussenreports.com Most recent articles from Rasmussen Reports en-US New High: 42% Say They Are Overweight http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/may_2012/new_high_42_say_they_are_overweight http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/may_2012/new_high_42_say_they_are_overweight Forty-two percent (42%) of American adults now admit to being overweight, the highest finding yet. But most still rate their overall health positively.

This new finding is up from the previous two years, when 35% claimed to be overweight. In July 2009, 41% said the same.
 

Still, 53% say they are not overweight, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 21-22, 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.

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:00 -0400 56% Plan On Using All Their Vacation Time This Year http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/may_2012/56_plan_on_using_all_their_vacation_time_this_year http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/may_2012/56_plan_on_using_all_their_vacation_time_this_year More American workers than ever plan on using all of their vacation time this year, but more are also connecting with work while they are away.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Employed Adults shows that 56% plan to use all of their vacation time this year, while 37% do not. (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 558 Working Adults was conducted on May 17-18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 -0400 53% Say Tax Cuts Help the Economy http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/taxes/may_2012/53_say_tax_cuts_help_the_economy http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/taxes/may_2012/53_say_tax_cuts_help_the_economy Most voters continue to believe tax cuts are good for the economy and that more government spending has a negative impact. 

Fifty-three percent (53%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say tax cuts help the economy, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.  Twenty-two percent (22%) say tax cuts hurt the economy, while 13% say they have no impact.  Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 -0400 51% Oppose Forcing Religious Organizations To Provide Birth Control http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/may_2012/51_oppose_forcing_religious_organizations_to_provide_birth_control http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/may_2012/51_oppose_forcing_religious_organizations_to_provide_birth_control A number of Catholic organizations including the University of Notre Dame have filed lawsuits challenging the mandate in President Obama’s health care law that they provide birth control to their employees in violation of Catholic religious beliefs. While most voters oppose this mandate, they also think it’s unlikely these Catholic institutions ultimately will shut down rather than implement the health care law.

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 11:11:00 -0400 Keeping Business Honest By John Stossel http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_john_stossel/keeping_business_honest http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_john_stossel/keeping_business_honest Instinctively, we look for people's motives. We need to know whom we can trust and whom we can't. We're especially skeptical of business because we know business wants our money.

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 09:40:00 -0400 Daily Presidential Tracking Poll http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows President Obama earning 45% of the vote and Mitt Romney attracting 44% support. Six percent (6%) would vote for a third party candidate, while another five percent (5%) are undecided.

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 09:30:00 -0400 Bain And Our Screwed-Up Culture By Froma Harrop http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_froma_harrop/bain_and_our_screwed_up_culture http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_froma_harrop/bain_and_our_screwed_up_culture We recently saluted Leslie Sabo for giving his life to save fellow soldiers in Vietnam 40 years ago. Injured after shielding a comrade with his body, the Pennsylvanian grabbed his grenade and stormed the foe's bunker. He died in the explosion. For his selflessness, America awarded Sabo the Congressional Medal of Honor.    

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 09:13:00 -0400 28% Say Their Personal Finances Are Improving http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/indexes/rasmussen_consumer_index/rasmussen_consumer_index http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/indexes/rasmussen_consumer_index/rasmussen_consumer_index The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures consumer confidence on a daily basis, held steady on Thursday at 89.9. Consumer confidence is up three points from a week ago but is down two points from a month ago.  The index is up nine points from three months ago.

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 08:42:00 -0400 Pennsylvania Senate: Casey (D) 48%, Smith (R) 41% http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_senate_elections/pennsylvania/election_2012_pennsylvania_senate http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_senate_elections/pennsylvania/election_2012_pennsylvania_senate Democratic incumbent Bob Casey, Jr. holds a seven-point lead over Republican challenger Tom Smith in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania.

A new telephone survey of Likely Voters in Pennsylvania finds Casey, who is seeking a second six-year term, with 48% support to Smith’s 41%. Three percent (3%) favor some other candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (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.

This Pennsylvania survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted May 21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 08:31:00 -0400 30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/right_direction_or_wrong_track http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/right_direction_or_wrong_track Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, May 20.

This finding is up two points from the previous week.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports May 14-20, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports 30surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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