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                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/july_2014/americans_view_poverty_as_a_bigger_trap_than_ever/1036792-1-eng-US/americans_view_poverty_as_a_bigger_trap_than_ever.jpg" />
                
                            July 23, 2014Americans View Poverty As A Bigger Trap Than Ever
Even as thousands of new illegal immigrants flood over the border, more Americans than ever doubt whether it is possible for most people in this country to escape being poor. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults still believe it is possible for just about anyone in the United States to work their way out of poverty. That’s consistent with findings since April of last year but down from the high 40s and low 50s for several years prior to that. However, 40% now think it is not possible for just about anyone to escape poverty, up just two points from 38% in March but the highest finding in regular surveying since January 2009 just after the Wall Street meltdown. Sixteen percent (16%) more 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 Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on July 18-19, 2014 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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                            July 22, 201444% Believe Economy Will Be Weaker A Year From Now
Is this the new normal? Americans continue to hold a gloomy assessment of the economy’s chances for improvement in both the short- and long-term.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults believe the U.S. economy will be stronger a year from now. That’s virtually unchanged from 24% in March, the lowest level of optimism recorded in regular tracking since early January 2009 following the Wall Street meltdown. This finding has generally run in the mid-30s to low 40s for most of the last five-and-a-half years.
(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 Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on July 18-19, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/july_2014/new_high_34_owe_more_money_than_they_did_a_year_ago/1036009-1-eng-US/new_high_34_owe_more_money_than_they_did_a_year_ago.jpg" />
                
                            July 18, 2014New High: 34% Owe More Money Than They Did A Year Ago
More Americans than ever say they owe more money than they did last year, and they’re more pessimistic about their future interest rates.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of American Adults now owe more money than they did last year, up from 32% last month and the highest finding in regular surveying since April 2009. Slightly fewer (31%) owe less now, while 33% say they owe about the same amount as they did last year. (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 July 14-15, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/july_2014/americans_still_strongly_fear_inflation_and_expect_to_pay_for_it/1035856-1-eng-US/americans_still_strongly_fear_inflation_and_expect_to_pay_for_it.jpg" />
                
                            July 18, 2014Americans Still Strongly Fear Inflation and Expect to Pay for It
With inflation worries at recent highs, the number of Americans who are paying more for groceries also has risen to its highest level in over two years. There's an increasing lack of confidence, too, that the Federal Reserve Board can keep inflation under control.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 88% of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries this year than the year before. This finding is up six points from last month and the highest since May 2012. Only seven percent (7%) say they are not paying more than they were a year ago, the lowest finding since January 2012. Five percent (5%) 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 July 14-15, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/july_2014/50_have_confidence_in_nation_s_banks/1035650-1-eng-US/50_have_confidence_in_nation_s_banks.jpg" />
                
                            July 17, 201450% Have Confidence in Nation’s Banks
The fallout from the 2008 Wall Street meltdown continues: Just this week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the largest civil penalty paid to date by a U.S. bank for illegal dealings in the period prior to the meltdown - $7 billion paid by Citicorp. After Americans’ confidence in the U.S. banking system reached a post-meltdown high in January, it has now fallen back to levels seen for much of the last five years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 50% of American Adults now are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the nation’s banks, and that includes only nine percent (9%) who are Very Confident. Forty-five percent (45%) are not confident in the banking industry, with 12% 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 July 14-15, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/july_2014/americans_question_motown_s_chances_for_recovery/1035520-1-eng-US/americans_question_motown_s_chances_for_recovery.jpg" />
                
                            July 16, 2014Americans Question Motown’s Chances for Recovery
Even as Detroiters vote on a bankruptcy plan that would make major cuts in retired public employee benefits, voters nationwide aren’t overly optimistic about the Motor City’s chances of recovery. There’s less concern, though, that other cities will follow Detroit into bankruptcy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 37% of American Adults think it is at least somewhat likely that Detroit will emerge from bankruptcy in the next five to 10 years and be a financially stable, well-run city. Forty-six percent (46%) consider that unlikely. This includes just seven percent (7%) who believe it’s Very Likely that Detroit will be back on its feet in the short term and 12% who say it’s Not At All Likely. 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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 10-11, 2014 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. Seemethodology.

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                            July 3, 2014Just 23% Think Unemployment Rate Will Be Lower Next Year
Optimism in the future job market in America is down this month, as fewer Americans believe the unemployment rate will go down over the next year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 23% of American Adults think, a year from today, unemployment will be lower than it is today. That’s the lowest level of optimism since December 2011. Thirty-two percent (32%) think unemployment will be higher in a year, a new high for the 2014. Just as many (35%) think it will stay about the same. Ten percent (10%) 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 and Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 1-2, 2014 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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                            June 26, 2014Common Core Support Among Those with School-Age Kids Plummets
Support for Common Core among Americans with school-age children has fallen dramatically, as more now question whether the new national education standards will actually improve student performance.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 34% of American Adults with children of elementary or secondary school age now favor requiring all schools nationwide to meet the same Common Core education standards. That’s an 18-point drop from 52% in early November of last year. Forty-seven percent (47%) oppose the imposition of the national standards, compared to 32% in the previous survey. Little changed are the 19% who 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 June 21-22, 2014 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. 

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/june_2014/56_think_oil_companies_will_use_iraq_crisis_as_excuse_to_raise_gas_prices/1031910-1-eng-US/56_think_oil_companies_will_use_iraq_crisis_as_excuse_to_raise_gas_prices.jpg" />
                
                            June 25, 201456% Think Oil Companies Will Use Iraq Crisis As Excuse to Raise Gas Prices
As the chaos continues in Iraq, most Americans are reporting higher gas prices and expect to pay even more in the near future. But they also tend to think higher fuel costs will be the result of oil companies using the political crisis as an excuse to drive up prices rather than due to an actual reduction in oil output.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American Adults are paying more for a gallon of gas compared to six months ago. Just three percent (3%) say they are paying less for gas, while 23% report paying about the same amount. (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 nationwide was conducted on June 19-20, 2014 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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                            June 23, 201453% Expect Higher Interest Rates in a Year
One-in-four Americans say they’re currently paying higher interest rates, and more than half expect those rates to go even higher over the next 12 months.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults think interest rates will be higher a year from today, up from 48% last month and the highest level of pessimism since last September. Just four percent (4%) think interest rates will be lower in a year's time, while 29% expect them to be about the same. Fourteen percent (14%) 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 June 15-16, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/june_2014/74_expect_higher_grocery_bills_next_year/1030804-1-eng-US/74_expect_higher_grocery_bills_next_year.jpg" />
                
                            June 19, 201474% Expect Higher Grocery Bills Next Year
Americans remain highly concerned about inflation, and the number who expects their grocery bill to rise is at its highest level in nearly two years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries than a year ago, down slightly from 85% in May  but in line with surveys for much of the past year. Just 11% say they are not paying more than they were a year ago. (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, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/june_2014/52_still_trust_america_s_banks/1030473-1-eng-US/52_still_trust_america_s_banks.jpg" />
                
                            June 17, 201452% Still Trust America's Banks
Americans remain slow to recover their faith in the nation's banks since 2008's financial meltdown.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the nation’s banks again this month, including eight percent (8%) who are Very Confident. Forty-three percent (43%) are not confident in the banking industry, with 12% 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, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/may_2014/31_owe_more_money_now/1026932-1-eng-US/31_owe_more_money_now.jpg" />
                
                            May 29, 201431% Owe More Money Now
More Americans say they owe more money this month, but most say their interest rates haven't changed.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of American Adults owe more than they did a year ago. That's up three points from last month and ties the recent high in March. Another 31% say they owe less than they did a year ago, while slightly more (35%) say the amount they owe is about the same. (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 22-23, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/may_2014/73_expect_to_pay_more_for_groceries/1026593-1-eng-US/73_expect_to_pay_more_for_groceries.jpg" />
                
                            May 28, 201473% Expect to Pay More for Groceries
Most Americans remain concerned about inflation and lack confidence in the Federal Reserve to keep it under control. This helps explain why more now expect grocery prices to keep going up.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of American Adults say they are paying more for groceries than a year ago, the highest finding since March of last year. Just eight percent (8%) are not paying more than they were a year ago. (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 22-23, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/may_2014/52_are_confident_in_banks_stability/1026116-1-eng-US/52_are_confident_in_banks_stability.jpg" />
                
                            May 27, 201452% Are Confident in Banks' Stability
Just over half of Americans remain confident in the stability of the U.S. banking system today.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the nation's banks, but that includes just 11% who are Very Confident. Forty-two percent (42%) are not confident in the banking industry, with 11% 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 May 22-23, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/april_2014/50_expect_higher_interest_rates_next_year/1001679-1-eng-US/50_expect_higher_interest_rates_next_year.jpg" />
                
                            April 22, 201450% Expect Higher Interest Rates Next Year
Most Americans say they are paying the same amount in interest as they were a year ago, but half expect to be paying more a year from now.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey funds that 28% of American Adults owe more money than they did a year ago, down from last month’s recent high of 31%. Thirty-three percent (33%) say they owe less than they did a year ago, while slightly more (35%) say they owe about the same amount. (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 April 14-15, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/april_2014/72_expect_to_pay_more_for_groceries_a_year_from_now/1001219-1-eng-US/72_expect_to_pay_more_for_groceries_a_year_from_now.jpg" />
                
                            April 18, 201472% Expect to Pay More For Groceries A Year From Now
Three-out-of-four Americans remain concerned about inflation, and the number who expects to pay more in the grocery store a year from now is higher than it’s been in months.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of American Adults are at least somewhat concerned about inflation, with 38% who are Very Concerned. Twenty percent (20%) don't share that concern, but that includes just four percent (4%) 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 American Adults was conducted on April 14-15, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/april_2014/50_still_confident_in_stability_of_banking_system/1000878-1-eng-US/50_still_confident_in_stability_of_banking_system.jpg" />
                
                            April 17, 201450% Still Confident in Stability of Banking System
Half of American Adults are still confident in the stability of the U.S. banking system today.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the nation's banks, but that includes just 10% who are Very Confident. Forty-four percent (44%) are not confident in the banking industry, with 12% 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 April 14-15, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/april_2014/65_of_internet_users_are_still_confident_in_banking_business_online/1000624-1-eng-US/65_of_internet_users_are_still_confident_in_banking_business_online.jpg" />
                
                            April 16, 201465% of Internet Users Are Still Confident in Banking, Business Online
Most Americans now bank online and are comfortable with doing business over the Internet in spite of the recently disclosed Heartbleed security breach. But most also admit they have had to change Internet passwords because of security worries.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of American Adults now use the Internet at least once a week, with 66% who say they use it every day or nearly every day. (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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 10-11, 2014 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.

                    <img src="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business/general_business/april_2014/54_think_increased_reliance_on_internet_makes_u_s_economy_more_vulnerable/1000438-1-eng-US/54_think_increased_reliance_on_internet_makes_u_s_economy_more_vulnerable.jpg" />
                
                            April 15, 201454% Think Increased Reliance on Internet Makes U.S. Economy More Vulnerable
The recently-disclosed Heartbleed bug has reportedly jeopardized the security of a number of major web sites, and many Americans now worry that increased dependency on the Internet puts the U.S. economy more at risk.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults think America’s increasing reliance on the Internet for business and financial transactions makes the economy more vulnerable to attack. Just eight percent (8%) think this increased dependency makes the U.S. economy less vulnerable, while 31% say the level of risk is unchanged. (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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 10-11, 2014 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.