General Business

46% Think Feds Might Try To Tax Bank Accounts Like Cyprus

Americans don’t believe the federal government has the constitutional authority to tax bank deposits as they did in Cyprus, but a plurality worries they might try it anyhow.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults think it’s at least somewhat likely that the U.S. government might try to tax money in individual bank accounts. Nearly as many (41%), however, view this as unlikely to occur Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on March 27-28, 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% Oppose Cyprus Bailout Plan to Tax Bank Deposits

Most Americans don’t approve of the decision to tax bank accounts as part of a bank bailout in Cyprus but think it’s likely other European countries will resort to similar plans to fight their massive deficit problems.

24% Think Poverty Very Severe in U.S.

Most Americans continue to see poverty as a problem in the United States, but few actually claim they are living in poverty.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of American Adults think poverty is at least somewhat severe in this country. That's down nine points from 80% in September but includes 24% who say it is Very Severe.  Twenty-three percent (23%) think poverty in the United States is not very or Not at All Severe.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 25-26, 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 Favor Work Over Welfare As Response to Poverty

Americans overwhelmingly agree that the best way to stay out of poverty is to work and like the idea of shifting government money spent on welfare programs to jobs for the poor.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 80% of American Adults agree with the statement, “Work is the best solution for poverty.” Only nine percent (9%) disagree, while 11% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 25-26, 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.

64% Think Too Many Are Dependent on Government Aid

Americans continue to believe that too many of their fellow citizens are financially dependent on the government, but they’re less critical of programs to help the poor.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of American Adults think there are too many Americans dependent on the government for financial aid. Only eight percent (8%) believe not enough Americans are dependent on this aid, while 17% feel the level of dependency is about right. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 25-26, 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.

55% Think Government Should Let ‘Too Big To Fail’ Banks Go Bust

Most Americans continue to believe the government should let the "too big to fail" banks bottom out, but that belief is down significantly from a year ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of American Adults think the government should let the largest banks and finance companies go out of business if they can no longer meet their obligations. Twenty-five percent (25%) think the government should find a way to keep these banks in business, while another 21% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on March 19-20, 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.

Plurality Believes Federal Deposit Insurance Limits Should Be Less than $250,000

The federal government provides deposit insurance for regulated banks up to a limit of $250,000 per account per bank.  Nine-out-of-ten American Adults (87%) support this federal policy. However, 34% believe the amount insured should be less than $250,000. Twenty-two percent (22%) take the opposite view and believe it should be higher. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% believe the current limits are about right.

50% Favor Breaking Up Nation’s Largest Banks

A Senate report released this month revealed that the nation’s largest bank, JP Morgan Chase, manipulated and withheld key information during its record trading losses last year, prompting even stronger belief that the big banks haven’t learned their lesson after receiving government bailouts in 2008. Most Americans want to end government subsidies for these ‘too big to fail’ institutions and half want to see those megabanks broken up.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 50% of U.S. Adults favor a plan to break up the 12 megabanks, which currently control about 69% of the banking industry. Twenty-three percent (23%) oppose breaking up the largest banks, while another 27% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 19-20, 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.

45% Expect Higher Interest Rates In A Year

More Americans say they are paying higher interest rates.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that one-in-five adults (20%) now say they are paying higher interest rates than they were a year ago. That's up three points from last month and the highest number since  September. Seventeen percent (17%) say they are paying lower rates, while 56% say their rates are about the same as 12 months ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 11-12, 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.

86% Are Paying Higher Grocery Bills Than A Year Ago

Most Americans remain worried about inflation, and an overwhelming number continue to say they are paying more for groceries compared to a year ago. Most believe they’ll be paying even more next year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 86% of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries than they were a year ago. Just nine percent (9%) say they are paying less for groceries compared to last year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 11-12, 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 Now Confident in Nation’s Banks

Confidence in the U.S. banking system is up again this month.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults now are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, but that includes just 10% who are Very Confident. Forty-three percent (43%) continue to lack confidence in the nation’s banks, with 11% who are Not At All Confident. (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 survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 11-12, 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.

62% Think U.S. Economy Fair to Blacks, Hispanics

Most voters continue to believe the U.S. economy is fair to women, blacks and Hispanics but are now evenly divided when asked if it’s fair to lower-income Americans. However, they still think all four are treated better than the middle class.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters think the economy is at least somewhat fair to women, but that includes only 15% who say it’s Very Fair. Thirty-four percent (34%) believe it’s unfair to women, with seven percent (7%) who feel it is Not At All Fair. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 6-7, 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.

35% Think U.S. Economy Fair to Middle Class

Fewer voters than ever now think the U.S. economy is fair to the middle class. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of Likely Voters believe the economy is at least somewhat fair to middle-class Americans, but that includes only six percent (6%) who think it’s Very Fair.  Sixty-two percent (62%) think the economy is not fair to the middle class, with 20% who feel it’s Not At All Fair.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 6-7, 2013 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.

New Low: 25% Say U.S. Economy Will Be Stronger In One Year

Like long-term economic confidence a month ago, short-term confidence in the U.S. economy is now at a new low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults now think the economy will be stronger a year from today. Nearly twice as many (48%) believe it will be weaker in a year's time. Eighteen percent (18%) expect it to be about the same.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 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.

49% Rate Free Market Policies More Important Than Closing Income Gap

Voters rate policies that promote the free market as more important than ones that reduce the income gap between rich and poor, but Republicans and Democrats don’t see eye to eye. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of all Likely U.S. Voters view economic policies that allow and encourage free market competition to be at least somewhat important, including 47% who regard them as Very Important. Just eight percent (8%) say free market-oriented policies are not very or Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 24-25, 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.

Only 41% View Economy As Fair to Those Willing to Work Hard

Most Americans may believe a middle-class lifestyle is within reach, but they still question the fairness of the economy to those who are willing to work hard. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 41% of Likely U.S. Voters think the U.S. economy is at least somewhat fair to people who are willing to work hard, while 53% disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 24-25, 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.

73% Oppose Taxing Health Care Benefits Provided by Employers

Americans overwhelmingly oppose the idea of taxing the health insurance benefits provided by their employers but are less adamant when it comes to workers who earn more than $150,000 a year.

Proposals have been made to include the amount employers pay toward a worker’s health insurance as part of his or her overall taxable income, but just 13% of American Adults think that’s a good idea. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% oppose taxing health insurance benefits provided by employers. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 17-18, 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% Owe Less Money Than A Year Ago

Americans are a lot less in debt than they were a year ago, but their outlook on interest rates hasn’t changed much.

Forty-two percent (42%) of U.S. Adults now say they owe less money than they did 12 months ago. That's up from 33% last month and the highest finding in regular surveys since April 2009. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just half as many (21%) say they owe more than they did a year ago, while 33% say their level of debt is about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 9-10, 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 Harder, Smarter Workers Make More Money

Just half (50%) of American Adults believe that someone who works hard and meets their responsibilities generally gets ahead in the United States today. But slightly more think those who work like that make more money.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% do not believe that those who work hard and meet their responsibilities get ahead. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 13-14, 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.

37% Are Very Concerned About Inflation

Most Americans remain concerned about inflation, but slightly fewer adults express strong concern.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 72% of U.S. Adults are at least somewhat concerned about inflation. That includes 37% who are Very Concerned, down from 41% a month ago and the lowest level of strong concern measured since December 2011. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not concerned about inflation, but that includes just five percent (5%) who are Not At All Concerned. (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 February 9-10, 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.