Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Priorities: Deficit Rising, Terrorism Slipping

Tough Stance on Iran Endorsed

January 23, 2012

Economic issues continue to be the public's highest priority as the 2012 State of the Union approaches. Fully 86% say that strengthening the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year, and 82% rate improving the job situation as a top priority.

The annual policy priorities survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 11-16 among 1,502 adults, finds that the federal budget deficit stands out as the fastest growing policy priority for Americans, largely because of increasing Republican concerns about the issue. Fully 69% rate reducing the budget deficit as a top priority -- the most in any of the Pew Research Center's annual policy priority updates going back to 1994.

Defending against terrorism and strengthening the military are given less priority today than over the course of the past decade. Republicans are placing far less emphasis on terrorism, which was their top priority in every year between 2002 and 2008, while opinions among Democrats and independents have shown far less change.

Read the full report for other major findings in these areas:

• Social Security and Medicare
• The environment
• Money and politics
• Illegal immigration
• Tax fairness
• Concerns about Iran
• The federal deficit
• Military spending