Sex and Race Matter in Middle Class Identity
The majority of American adults continues to identify as middle class, but sex and race are among the factors that shape that identity and what it means.
Business
Most Recent Releases
December 14, 2017
December 8, 2017
Consumer Spending Update: Economic Confidence Continues to Soar
Today’s newly released jobs report, although unchanged from last month, finds the unemployment rate remaining at its lowest level in more than 17 years.
December 5, 2017
Half Anticipate Tax Cuts By Year’s End
The Senate passed the GOP’s tax reform bill in a middle-of-the-night vote over the weekend. Half of voters think it’s likely that Congress will go through with the tax cuts before the end of the year, but they’re torn on whether they will end up cutting taxes too much or not enough.
December 1, 2017
Americans Less Likely To Say Credit Cards Tempt Spending
The holiday shopping season is now in high gear, but fewer Americans are concerned that having credit cards tempt people to spend more than they can afford. That doesn’t mean they don’t see the need to cut back on spending though.
November 29, 2017
Is Cash Making a Comeback?
Are Americans returning to the ways of good old hard cash? Plastic is still the choice for their main spending, but they’re less likely to go cash-free for a week than in past years.
November 22, 2017
Americans Are Starting Their Holiday Shopping Early This Year
Americans are jumping the gun on holiday shopping this year, with nearly half who say they’ve already started even before Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals hit.
November 13, 2017
Confidence in Jobs Market Hits New High
The government jobs report for October showed the hurricane-hit U.S. economy rebounding strongly, with the unemployment rate down now to 4.1%, the lowest level since 2000. No wonder that confidence in the job market has risen to a new high.
November 10, 2017
Consumer Spending Update: Positive Economic Outlook Means Consumers Are Ready to Spend
The stock market continues to soar to its highest levels to date...
October 31, 2017
Americans Say No to Gas Tax
The Trump administration is considering raising the gas tax for the first time in 24 years to help pay for a one trillion dollar infrastructure plan, but Americans unsurprisingly are not on board.
October 25, 2017
41% Have Been A Victim of A Major Data Breach
Data breaches at major companies like the recent one at credit reporting firm Equifax are happening more frequently, and a sizable number of Americans admit to being a victim of a cyber attack.
October 13, 2017
67% of Americans Oppose Tax Breaks for NFL Teams
President Trump has repeatedly called out National Football League team owners in the partially tax-subsidized league for allowing player protests during the national anthem.
October 11, 2017
Optimism About Future Home Values At Record High
For the first time in eight years of tracking, more than half of homeowners see a rising home value in their future.
October 6, 2017
Consumer Spending Update: Economic Confidence Remains High
The overall Rasmussen Reports Economic Index for October rose two points to 129.2. Enthusiasm about the economy started to grow immediately following the 2016 presidential election and continues to show the highest level of confidence since this tracking began in 2014.
September 15, 2017
Americans Aren’t Pulling for an Internet Sales Tax
Congress is currently debating whether online retailers like Amazon should charge sales tax on purchases, even if the seller and buyer aren’t in the same state. A majority of Americans do at least some shopping online, and they are not fans of taxing those purchases.
September 14, 2017
Americans Don't Support Bailouts for Cities Like Hartford
Hartford, the state capital of Connecticut, is close to declaring bankruptcy, saying it won't be able to pay all its bills within 60 days. But just as they did when Detroit was nearing bankruptcy in 2013, Americans don’t want the government getting involved.
September 13, 2017
Americans Say Sales Tax Fairest of Taxes
Even as the fight over charging sales tax for online retailers ensues in Congress, Americans still think sales tax is the most fair type of tax they pay. But they’re nearly as likely to see income tax as both the most (and least) fair type of tax today.
September 11, 2017
Voters Less Convinced Taxes Will Go Up Under a Trump White House
Now that Donald Trump is in the White House, fewer voters think the president will raise taxes compared to when he was on the campaign trail. But slightly more voters see a Trump White House with more government spending.
September 11, 2017
Democrats Growing Wary of Tax Cut Benefits
President Trump has promised to cut taxes. Voters are generally on board, but Democrats are less convinced now of the economic benefits of doing so.
September 8, 2017
Consumer Spending Update: Spending Stalls Despite Continued Confidence in Economy
Despite a month-over-month drop in economic confidence, consumers continue to look more favorably upon the economy and their own personal finances than they have in years past.
September 7, 2017
Republicans Say Cuts to Corporate Tax Rates Are An Economic Win
President Donald Trump this week expressed his desire to slash the U.S. corporate tax rate from a high of 35% to 15% in order to boost job growth and help middle-class Americans.
