General Business

62% Think Government Should Cut Spending to Help Economy

Most voters still see less government spending as good for the economy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the government should cut spending in reaction to the nation’s economic problems. But that's down from 65% last month and the lowest level of support for reduced spending since last August. Still, voters aren't enthusiastic about more government spending: Just 23% think the government should spend more in response to the struggling economy. That's consistent with regular surveys for more than a year now. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure which is a better option. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on July 18-19, 2013 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 Like Coal Industry More Than the EPA

Voters view the U.S. coal industry more favorably than the Environmental Protection Agency and are closely divided when asked if the Obama administration’s ultimate goal is to kill that industry.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Likely U.S. Voters view the U.S. coal industry at least somewhat favorably. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 29% hold an unfavorable opinion of it. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 14-15, 2013 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.

85% Think Christian Photographer Has Right to Turn Down Same-Sex Wedding Job

Americans draw a fine line when it comes to respecting each other’s rights. If a Christian wedding photographer who has deeply held religious beliefs opposing same-sex marriage is asked to work a same-sex wedding ceremony, 85% of American Adults believe he has the right to say no. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only eight percent (8%) disagree even as the courts are hearing such challenges. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 7-8, 2013 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.

Americans Think Bar Owners, Landlords Should Be Able to Pick Their Customers

Most Americans believe bar owners and landlords should have the freedom to regulate their establishments to attract a specific type of customer. If the owner of a bar wanted to avoid some of the problems associated with college and under-age drinking, 53% of American Adults think that owner should have the right to allow only people 25 and older into his or her bar. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% disagree, while 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 7-8, 2013 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.

33% Expect Stronger Economy A Year From Now, 41% Weaker

Americans continue to have more hope for the economy five years from now than in the short-term.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that just 33% think the U.S. economy will be stronger in a year's time, generally in line with surveys for the past several months. Forty-one percent (41%) still believe the economy will be weaker one year from now, up slightly from 38% in March but down from a recent high of 50% last November.  Twenty percent (20%) expect the economy to stay about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

65% Think Government Should Cut Spending to Help Economy

Concern that the government will do too much to help the economy is at its highest level since last fall.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters are more worried that the federal government will do too much rather than not enough in reacting to the nation’s economic problems. That's up from 39% in March and the highest level of concern since September.  Slightly more (48%) still fear that the government won’t do enough to help the economy.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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(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 survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 18-19, 2013 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.

42% Are Somewhat Confident Fed Can Keep Inflation Down

The Federal Reserve Board issued a more optimistic analysis of the economy than expected earlier this week, but Americans still don't have much confidence in the Fed to keep inflation under control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 74% of Americans remain concerned about inflation. That includes 39% who are Very Concerned. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not very or Not At All Concerned. This is generally in line with attitudes for the past year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 15-16, 2013 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% Predict Higher Interest Rates Next Year

Most Americans say they are paying about the same amount in interest rates compared to last year, but half now expect those rates to rise over the next year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% of American adults say they are paying higher interest rates than they were last year, the lowest level measured since October.  Nearly as many (14%) are paying lower interest rates compared to last year, while 62% are paying about the same amount.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 15-16, 2013 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.

53% Are Confident In Stability of U.S. Banking Industry

Confidence in the stability of U.S. banks is back over 50% again.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 53% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, although that includes just 10% who are Very Confident. Forty-eight percent (48%) don’t share that confidence, with 10% who are Not At All Confident. (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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 15-16, 2013 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.

66% of Working Americans Consider Themselves Middle Class

Most working Americans consider themselves part of the middle class, while the fewest in a year now view themselves as wealthy. Those who feel they are among the working poor remain at an all-time low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that two-thirds (66%) of Employed Adults consider themselves middle class. Just one percent (1%) now consider themselves wealthy, the lowest finding since May 2012. But 22% now describe themselves as upper middle class, the highest since then. Only eight percent (8%) regard themselves as among the working poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 644 Employed Adults was conducted on June 1-2, 2013 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.

68% Say Rewarding Hard Work More Important Than Income Equality

In the minds of most voters, a fair economy will reward those who work hard and are successful.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) say rewarding hard work is a top priority even if it leads to big differences between rich and poor. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of Likely U.S. Voters believe insuring equality of income and wealth is more important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 31-June 1, 2013 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.

79% Say It Will Be Their Choice to Leave Current Job

A plurality of workers plan on staying with their current company for at least five years, but when they do leave, most say it will be on their terms.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Employed Adults intend to work for their current employer for more than five years, down from 40% in March and the lowest since November 2012. Twenty-one percent (21%) plan on staying at their current job for one to five years, up from 14% in March and the highest since July. Just seven percent (7%) intend to stay with their current employer for less than a year, but 35% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 644 Employed Adults was conducted on June 1-2, 2013 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.

73% Expect to Pay More for Groceries

The Federal Reserve Board continues to work hard at keeping the U.S. inflation rate around two percent, but most Americans lack confidence in the Fed's efforts and still say they are spending more on groceries compared to a year ago. Most also expect those prices to keep going up.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries now than they were a year ago, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  This figure shows little change from most surveys conducted since April 2009. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 16-17, 2013 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% Think Interest Rates Will Be Higher In A Year

Few Americans say they are paying higher interest rates than they were a year ago, but many expect that to change moving forward.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults believe interest rates will be higher a year from today. Just seven percent (7%) expect rates to be lower, while 37% say they’ll be about the same. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 16-17, 2013 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.

48% Confident In Stability of U.S. Banking Industry

Confidence in the U.S. banking system is up from last month but still well below where it was five years ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, but that includes only 10% who are Very Confident. Forty-eight percent (48%) lack confidence in the banking system, with 12% who are Not At All Confident in its stability. (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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 16-17, 2013 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.

61% Favor Requiring Retailers to Publish Where Clothes Are Made

The horrific factory collapse in Bangladesh more than two weeks ago that left more than 1,100 people dead has put the human toll of producing cheap clothing and other products back in the minds of many. While fewer than half of Americans make an effort to only buy clothes made domestically, they support requirements for apparel companies to report where their clothes are made and details about working conditions in those countries.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 61% of U.S. Adults believe all apparel retailers should be required to report or display online where their products are manufactured and what labor conditions are like in those factories. Twenty-four percent (24%) oppose this requirement. Another 16% 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.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 10-11, 2013 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% Think It's Very Fair for Successful Businessmen to Get Rich

Most voters believe it is not only fair that people who build successful companies become rich, but it also helps the economy in the process.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters think letting entrepreneurs get rich helps the economy. Just 13% say it hurts the economy. Ten percent (10%) think it has no impact, and 18% are not sure. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 1-2, 2013 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.

47% Think Full Housing Recovery More Than Three Years Away

Americans continue to worry about the economy but remain slightly more confident in the full recovery of the housing market.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American Adults still think it will take more than three years for housing prices to fully recover from the downturn that began in 2008. But this is the second month in a row that number has dipped below the 50% mark and, generally speaking, reflects slightly more optimism than Americans have had since mid-2010. Seventeen percent (17%) think it will take the housing market three years to fully recover; 14% say two years, and six percent (6%) believe the housing market can recover in just one year. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (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 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on April 28-29, 2013 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. 

31% Think U.S. Economy Will Be Stronger A Year From Now

Americans continue to express little short- or long-term confidence in the U.S. economy. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of American Adults think the economy will be stronger five years from today. That's up from an all-time low of 36% four weeks ago and more in line with findings for the past year. Twenty-seven percent (27%) predict that the economy will be weaker five years from now, while 17% think it will be about the same. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure.  (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 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on April 28-29, 2013 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. 

56% Think Bank Bailouts Were Bad for the U.S.

More than four years have passed since the federal government began bailing out troubled big banks and other financial institutions, and most voters still think those bailouts were a bad idea. 

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the financial industry bailouts were bad for the United States. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 26% think those bailouts were good for the country. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 21-22, 2013 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.