General Business

How Are Americans' Finances These Days?

Americans are much more optimistic about their personal financial future than they were a year ago.

More Voters Think Regulation Good for Big Businesses, Bad for Small Ones

President-elect Donald Trump promised during the campaign to reduce government regulations on business. Most voters agree that government regulations tend to hurt small businesses more and that large companies take advantage of the political system, but a growing number of voters think regulations are the best way to keep big businesses in check.

Americans Think Government Should Protect Businesses More

Americans remain skeptical of so-called “free trade,” and most believe the U.S. government doesn’t do enough to protect businesses here from overseas competition.

Americans Are Willing to Pay More to Bring Back Manufacturing Jobs

Americans strongly agree with both major presidential candidates about the importance of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States and are willing to pay more for consumer goods to make it happen.

Most See Less Government As Answer to Income Gap

Many continue to complain about the growing difference in income between rich and poor in America and want the government to do something about it. But voters still think that’s a bad idea.

Younger Adults Rely Much Less on Cash

Is America becoming a cashless society?

Most Americans Bank Online Despite Security Concerns

While online security breaches are a regular occurrence, most Americans continue to trust their banking to the Internet.

Few Americans See A Brighter Economic Future

More than a third of Americans say they are in worse financial shape than they were last year at this time, and most of them expect to be even worse off 12 months from now.

Most Shoppers Are Going Online for Christmas

A sizable majority of Americans are again using the Internet to finish their holiday shopping this year.

Holiday Shoppers Still Buying in Record Time

Americans continue to shop at a record pace this holiday season.

Pace of Holiday Spending Remains High

Americans are either in a bigger spending mood this holiday season or just more eager to get their shopping done. The number who say they have begun their seasonal shopping has jumped to a record level following the Black Friday sales.

Free Market or Closing the Income Gap?

Voters still think policies that are pro-free market are important for the economy, but are they more important than those that reduce the income gap between rich and poor?

Is Government the Solution to Rising Drug Costs?

Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli made headlines last week when he purchased the rights to a drug used to fight AIDS complications and increased the price by 5000% overnight. Shkreli later promised to lower the price under pressure from medical groups and politicians, but the incident highlighted the continuing problem of rising prescription drug costs.

Americans Question Level of CEO Pay

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has proposed tax hikes on the country’s wealthiest households in response to what he feels are vastly overpaid CEOs and Wall Street hedge fund managers.

Pessimism Over Interest Rates Rises

Most Americans continue to lack confidence in the Federal Reserve Board to keep interest rates down and expect to pay higher rates next year.

Voters Worry China’s Problems Are Coming Our Way

Americans are definitely worried that the unfolding economic crisis in China may have repercussions on this side of the Pacific.

Americans Think Illegals Are Taking Their Jobs

As the U.S. economy continues to stumble along, many Americans suspect they’re competing for jobs with the growing number of illegal immigrants in this country.

Voters Believe People Get Rich Through Hard Work

When it comes to building wealth, voters don’t see an easy way out: they still believe most people get rich by working hard.

Americans See Free Trade As Good for Business, or Do They?

Americans are conflicted on free trade. Most think the government doesn’t do enough to protect U.S. businesses, but at the same time they think those businesses will do better against foreign competitors with a wide-open market.

Americans Think Free Trade Good for Consumers, Bad for U.S. Jobs

Americans are a little less enthusiastic about free trade, even though they admit it’s better for consumers. But they’re also more likely now to see it as a job killer. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on April 22-23, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.