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52% Still Expect Higher Interest Rates A Year From Now

Most Americans feel that today’s interest rates are about the same as they were one year ago, but they expect to be paying higher rates a year from now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults think interest rates will be higher in a year. That’s down six points from September which was the highest level of pessimism since early 2011. From July 2009 to early May 2011, this finding generally remained in the mid-to-high 50s but has been mostly in the 40s over the past couple years.

Just three percent (3%) expect lower rates this time next year, however, while 32% think rates will stay about the same. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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

42% Are Confident Fed Can Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Down

As the country awaits the likely confirmation of Janet Yellen as the new Federal Reserve Board chairman, confidence in the Fed’s ability to control interest rates and inflation remains low. But Americans are less pessimistic about rising grocery prices.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident that the Fed can keep interest rates down and inflation under control, but that includes just 11% who are Very Confident. Fifty-two percent (52%) lack that confidence, with 18% who are Not Confident At All. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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

39% Think Auto Bailouts Were Good for U.S.

The number of voters who believe the federal government bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler were good for the United States has reached an all-time low, and more than ever consider those bailouts a failure.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the auto industry bailouts were good for the country, the first time that number has fallen below 40% in regular surveying for the past two years. Slightly more (43%) say the bailouts were bad for the United States, while 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 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.

52% Are Confident in Stability of U.S. Banking System

Confidence in the stability of U.S. banks is over 50% for the fourth time this year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 52% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, but that includes just 11% who are Very Confident. Forty-three percent (43%) don’t share that confidence, with 13% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 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.

26% View Fed Nominee Janet Yellen Favorably, 35% Don’t Know Who She Is

One is the nation’s most influential banker; the other is about to take over that job. Yet both are unknowns to a sizable number of Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% of American Adults have a favorable opinion of Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, while 41% view him unfavorably. This includes eight percent (8%) with a Very Favorable opinion and 19% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 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.

65% Say Gov't Workers Have More Job Security Than Those in Private Sector

Most Americans continue to believe that government workers are better off than those employed in the private sector.

74% Want to Audit the Federal Reserve

Americans still overwhelmingly favor a public audit of the Federal Reserve, perhaps in part because a sizable number think the Fed chairman has too much power over the economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults favor auditing the Federal Reserve and making the results available to the public. Just 10% oppose such an audit, but 16% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 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.

23% Favor Long-Term Government Help for Unemployed

Most Americans still think the federal government should avoid a long-term role in aiding those who can’t find work. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 23% of American Adults favor long-term government involvement, with 10% who say unemployment benefits should be extended indefinitely and 13% who say the government should just hire those who can't find a job. That's in line with attitudes for the past year. 

Twenty-seven percent (27%) prefer the short-term government solution of paying for retraining, while 37% think the federal government should do nothing at all for the long-term unemployed. That’s down only slightly from 40% in September, the highest finding in three years of regular surveying. Thirteen percent (13%) are unsure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 4-5, 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.

19% Believe Job Market Better Than A Year Ago, 38% Say Worse

Americans are more pessimistic about the U.S. job market than they have been in nearly two years.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows only 19% of American Adults now believe the job market is better than it was one year ago. That's down six points from 25% in September and the lowest finding since December 2011. Thirty-eight percent (38%) believe the job market is worse today than it was a year ago, up seven points from the previous survey and the most pessimistic assessment since October of last year. Thirty-nine percent (39%) expect the job market to remain about the same.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 4-5, 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.

36% Favor Federal Bailout for Detroit, 45% Oppose

With Detroit's bankruptcy now being challenged in federal court, Americans are more supportive of a federal bailout to make sure retired public workers get their full pension benefits, even though most still expect more major cities to declare bankruptcy soon.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of American Adults now believe the federal government should bail out Detroit to make sure the pensions of the city's retired employees are paid in full. A plurality (45%) remains opposed to a federal bailout of Detroit. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 2-3, 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.

24% Say Stock Market Will Be Stronger in a Year

Few Americans believe the stock market will be higher in the near future. A plurality also still thinks housing prices will take more than three years to recover.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 24% of American Adults think the stock market will be higher than it is a year from now. Just as many (23%) believe the market will be lower. Thirty-six percent (36%) think it will be about the same. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see question wording, click here.)

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

41% Say Economy Will Be Weaker in a Year, 33% Say Stronger

Americans remain pessimistic about the economy's recovery over the next year but continue to have slightly higher hopes for five years from now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of American Adults believe the U.S. economy will be stronger in a year's time, consistent with findings for the past year. But 41% think the economy will be weaker a year from now, also showing little change over the past few months but down from a recent high of 50% in November 2012. Nineteen percent (19%) expect the economy to remain the same. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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

33% Say Financial Industry Bailouts Good for U.S.

Five years after the Wall Street meltdown, nearly half of voters still believe the government bailouts of the financial industry were a bad move, while one-in-three think they were a good idea.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 33% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the government bailouts of the financial sector were good for America. Forty-eight percent (48%) say they were bad for the country. Eighteen percent (18%) aren't sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 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.

64% Think Another Shutdown Likely in Mid-January

Most voters want a long-term budget deal that cuts federal spending but expect another government shutdown soon because Congress can’t reach such a deal.

Just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a federal budget that increases spending, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-four percent (54%) prefer a budget that cuts spending instead, while 25% want one that keeps spending levels about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 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.

51% Say Buying a Home is Best Investment for Families

More Americans now believe buying a home is a good investment, but belief that now is a good time to sell a home is down from its recent high.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment most families can make. That's up slightly from the past few months but in line with findings in regular surveys earlier this year and throughout 2012. An all-time high of 67% felt that way in May 2009. Just 22% now feel a home is not a family's best investment, while 27% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

59% of Homeowners Feel Their Homes Worth More Now

Even more homeowners are confident that their homes have increased in value since they purchased them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American homeowners feel that their home is worth more now than when they bought it. That's a three-point increase from 56% in June and the highest level of confidence since October 2011. Twenty-one percent (21%) believe their home is worth less today, consistent with findings since last December. Eighteen percent (18%) think the value of their home is about the same as when they purchased it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 699 Homeowners was conducted on October 13-14, 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. 

Confidence in Future Home Values Reaches New Highs

Homeowners are more confident than ever in both the short- and long-term values of their homes, and more now say their home is worth more than what they still owe on their mortgage.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of U.S. Homeowners now believe the value of their home will go up over the next year, the highest finding since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking in April 2009. Just 14% think their home will be worth less in a year, down six points from last month and the lowest since July.  Nearly half (46%) think the value of their home will remain about the same over the next year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 699 Homeowners was conducted on October 13-14, 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.

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53% Think More Competition, Less Regulation Better for U.S. Financial System

Americans aren't impressed with the federal government's current regulation of the U.S. financial system and think less regulation is the better way to go. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 12% of American Adults consider the federal government's oversight of the banking industry as good or excellent. Forty-two percent (42%) rate this oversight as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here).

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The national telephone survey of 1000 American Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from October 7-8, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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. 

81% of Adults Trust Their Doctor

Americans overwhelmingly trust their doctor.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults have a doctor that they see on a regular basis. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 5-6, 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.

68% Say Government Not Tough Enough on Wall Street Crime

Several employees of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff are going on trial this week for their part in orchestrating one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history, but many Americans still believe others in the financial industry are getting away with too much.

Just 14% of American Adults believe the federal government has been aggressive enough in pursuing possible criminal behavior on Wall Street, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-eight percent (68%) don’t think the federal government has been aggressive enough in this area. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 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.