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BUSINESS

18% Say 1930s-like Depression Very Likely In Next Few Years

The number of Americans who think the U.S. economy will spiral into a depression similar to the 1930’s is at its highest level in two years.
 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 18% now say it’s Very Likely that there will be a 1930’s-like depression in the next few years. Another 31% say such an outcome is Somewhat Likely. The data also shows that 34% say a new Depression is Not Very Likely while 8% say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here).
 
Those figures suggest a slight increase in pessimism from the end of last year. However, the numbers were a bit worse in March 2009.
 
Survey data released earlier shows that just 21% believe that today’s children will be better off than their parents.

Thirty-five percent (35%) believe the economy will be stronger in a year while 43% think it will be weaker. The discouragement is deep enough that fewer than half think the U.S. economy will be stronger five years from now.

In January, consumer confidence reached the highest level in two years. However, the Rasmussen Consumer Index has shown confidence declining in February and March. But when it comes to just a year’s time, a plurality (43%) says economic conditions in the country will be weaker.

(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 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 17-18, 2011 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.

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We conduct public opinion polls on a variety of topics to inform our audience on events in the news and other topics of interest. To ensure editorial control and independence, we pay for the polls ourselves and generate revenue through the sale of subscriptions, sponsorships, and advertising. Nightly polling on politics, business and lifestyle topics provides the content to update the Rasmussen Reports web site many times each day. If it's in the news, it's in our polls. Additionally, the data drives a daily update newsletter and various media outlets across the country.

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