Publications on Economics

This section features selected Pew Research Center reports (since 2005) on labor, personal finance, consumer behavior and attitudes toward the economy. Individual project websites contain more reports related to this topic. In particular, for information about immigrants and labor markets, please see Pew Hispanic Center; for attitudes regarding the economy and business favorability, see Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Young, Underemployed and Optimistic
Coming of Age, Slowly, in a Tough Economy
9 Feb 12A plurality of the American public believes that young adults are having the toughest time of any age group in today’s economy -- and a lopsided majority says it’s more difficult for today’s young adults than it was for their parents’ generation to pay for college, find a job, buy a home or save for the future. But long-term economic optimism among young adults remains unscarred.
Social & Demographic Trends

It's About Fairness, Not Class Warfare
27 Jan 12Pew Research Center President Andrew Kohut writes in the New York Times while Americans are hearing more and more about class conflict, there is little indication that they are increasingly divided along these lines. Their concerns are about policies that give everyone a fair shot.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Hispanics Say They Have the Worst of a Bad Economy
26 Jan 12A majority of Latinos (54%) believe that the economic downturn that began in 2007 has been harder on them than on any other ethnic group in America.
Pew Hispanic Center

Public Priorities: Deficit Rising, Terrorism Slipping
Tough Stance on Iran Endorsed
23 Jan 12As the State of the Union approaches, the economy continues to be the public's top priority. 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.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama: Weak Job Ratings, But Positive Personal Image
Michelle Obama’s Popularity Undiminished
19 Jan 12Barack Obama begins his fourth year in office facing a struggling economy, an unhappy public, and a lower job approval rating than most of his recent predecessors at a comparable point in their presidencies. However, Obama he still possesses a positive personal image with voters.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Rising Share of Americans See Conflict Between Rich and Poor
11 Jan 12A new Pew Research Center survey finds that two-thirds of the public believes there are “very strong” or “strong” conflicts between the rich and the poor -- an increase of 19 percentage points since 2009.
Social & Demographic Trends

The Year in the News 2011
Coverage of Economy and International News Jump in a Year of Major Breaking Stories
21 Dec 11This year, the faltering U.S. economy was the No. 1 story in the American news media, but 2011 was also characterized by a jump of more than a third in coverage of international news.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Tax System Seen as Unfair, in Need of Overhaul
Wealthy Not Paying Fair Share Top Complaint
20 Dec 11Public dissatisfaction with the tax system has grown over the past decade, and the focus of the public’s frustration is not how much they themselves pay, but rather the impression that wealthy people are not paying their fair share.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama Job Approval Edges Up, GOP Contest Remains Fluid
Lackluster Ratings for Republican Field Continue
17 Nov 11President Barack Obama's job rating has improved modestly over the past month, although few Americans approve of the way he is handling the economy. In addition, a majority of Americans continue to hold a favorable personal opinion of Obama. This is not the case for his main GOP rivals, whom he mostly bests in test election measures.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Hispanic Poverty Rate Highest In New Supplemental Census Measure
8 Nov 11Hispanics have the highest poverty rate of the nation's largest racial and ethnic groups under an alternative Census Bureau calculation known as the Supplemental Poverty Measure. The alternative measure is intended to better reflect the costs of basic living expenses as well as the resources people have to pay them.
Pew Hispanic Center

The Rising Age Gap in Economic Well-Being
The Old Prosper Relative to the Young
7 Nov 11Older adults have made dramatic gains relative to younger adults in their economic well being during the past quarter century, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of data from two key U.S. Census sources.
Social & Demographic Trends

The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election
Angry Silents, Disengaged Millennials
3 Nov 11In the last four national elections, generation has mattered more in American elections than it has in decades. This continues to be true as voters look ahead toward the 2012 general election. In a contest between President Obama and Mitt Romney, there is a 20-point gap in support for Obama between Millennials and the over-65 Silent generation.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public and 'Occupy Wall Street' Movement Agree on Key Issues
19 Oct 11In an analysis in the New York Times, Pew Research Center president Andrew Kohut writes that the American public is beginning to take notice of the "Occupy movement." Polling this week finds a growing number of people paying attention to news about the movement.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

In a Down Economy, Fewer Births
12 Oct 11A sharp decline in fertility rates in the United States that started in 2008 is closely linked to the souring of the economy that began about the same time.
Social & Demographic Trends

Fighting Poverty in a Tough Economy, Americans Move in With Their Relatives
3 Oct 11The financial hardships caused by the Great Recession have helped fuel the largest increase in modern history in the number of Americans living in multi-generational households. From 2007 to 2009, this group spiked from 46.5 million people to 51.4 million.
Social & Demographic Trends

No Consensus About Whether Nation Is Divided Into 'Haves' and 'Have-Nots'
29 Sep 11The public is divided on the question of whether the U.S. has become a society of economic 'haves' and 'have-nots," with 52% saying it is incorrect to think of the country this way while 45% say such a division exists.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Childhood Poverty Among Hispanics Sets Record, Leads Nation
The Toll of the Great Recession
28 Sep 11More Latino children are living in poverty—6.1 million in 2010—than children of any other racial or ethnic group.
Pew Hispanic Center

Obama Draws More Confidence than GOP Leaders on Deficit
Most Support Raising Taxes on High Incomes to Reduce Deficit
26 Sep 11While public confidence in President Obama on the budget deficit issue remains little changed since last December, confidence in congressional leaders, particularly Republican leaders in Congress, has plummeted.
Pew Research Center

From Hyperpower to Declining Power
Changing Global Perceptions of the U.S. in the Post-Sept. 11 Era
7 Sep 11Early in the post-Sept. 11 era, the projection of American military strength led to pervasive fears of an unleashed, and unchecked, hyperpower. More recently, however, the global financial crisis has turned the spotlight to America’s declining economic prowess and perceptions of a great power in decline.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Public Sees Budget Negotiations as “Ridiculous”, “Disgusting”, “Stupid"
Leaders’ Images Tarnished
1 Aug 11From liberal Democrats to Tea Party Republicans, there is broad public consensus that the budget negotiations of recent weeks can be summed up in words such as ridiculous, disgusting, stupid, and frustrating. Nationwide, 72% describe the recent negotiations in negative terms.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Wealth Gaps and Perception Gaps: A Paradox of the Great Recession
29 Jul 11When the real estate market melted down, those hit hardest by the sharp drop in household wealth were blacks and Hispanics. But even while their wealth was being decimated, the political reaction among the nation's minorities has been surprisingly muted.
Social & Demographic Trends

For a Second Straight Week, It's the Debt Crisis and Tabloid Scandal
27 Jul 11Two stories that have become fixtures in the headlines -- the deadlocked debt debate and the intensifying News of the World phone hacking scandal -- accounted for more than half of last week's newshole, relegating other significant events to secondary status in the media.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Debt Stalemate Top Story, But No Surge in Public Interest
Many Say Illegal Tactics by U.K. Media Likely Also Used Here
27 Jul 11The debt limit was the top story last week for both the public and the news media, although public interest in the federal budget deficit and national debt is not much higher than it was the previous week despite the approaching Aug. 2 deadline for raising the ceiling.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Wants Debt Ceiling Compromise, Expects a Deal Before Deadline
GOP Widely Viewed as "More Extreme in Its Positions"
26 Jul 11The public overwhelmingly favors a compromise in the debt ceiling standoff, with 68% saying they want lawmakers to agree to a deal even if they disagree with it. Republicans overall favor a compromise by a small majority, but those who identify with the tea party movement say their representatives should stick to their principles.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Wealth Gaps Rise to Record Highs Between Whites, Blacks and Hispanics
Twenty-to-One
26 Jul 11The lopsided wealth ratios are the largest since the government began publishing such data a quarter century ago and roughly twice the size of the ratios that had prevailed between these three groups for the two decades prior to the Great Recession that ended in 2009.
Social & Demographic Trends

Muslim-Western Tensions Persist
Common Concerns About Islamic Extremism
21 Jul 11Muslim and Western publics continue to see relations between them as generally bad, but there has been somewhat of a thaw in the views of the U.S. and Europe about the Muslim world.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Debt Limit Fight Tops News Interest, Coverage
Public Sees Debt Debate as Important, Hard to Understand
19 Jul 11An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that the debate over the nation's debt limit is important to people like themselves (90%), while nearly seven-in-ten (68%) say it is interesting.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

A Washington Standoff and a London Scandal Lead the News
19 Jul 11The continuing drama over the debt standoff in Washington last week drove coverage of the economy to its second highest mark in 2011, eclipsing covering of the presidential campaign. Press attention to the scandal surrounding Ruper Murdoch's media empire doubled in the past week.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama Draws More Confidence than Boehner, McConnell or Cantor on Debt Ceiling
18 Jul 11Americans have more confidence in President Obama than other key players to do the right thing on the debt issue, but that amounts to only about half of the public. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor gets the lowest vote of confidence, although that is partly because he is less well-known.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Split Evenly on Urgency of Debt Limit Deadline
18 Jul 11Most Republicans say that it will not be a major problem if the debt ceiling is not raised by Aug. 2, while the balance of opinion is the reverse among Democrats.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

U.S. Status as World's Superpower Challenged by Rise of China
U.S. Favorability Ratings Remain Positive
13 Jul 11The U.S. image abroad is more favorable than it was in the Bush years, but it now faces a new challenge: doubts about America’s superpower status and the belief that China either will replace or already has replaced the United States as the world’s leading superpower.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Casey Anthony Verdict Top Story for Public and Social Networkers
No Improvement in Views of Economic News
13 Jul 11Americans followed news about the verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial more closely than other top stories, but they also kept a watch on news about the struggling economy and talks in Washington over raising the federal debt limit.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Now Divided on Debt Limit Debate
Default Concerns Rise among Independents
11 Jul 11While a plurality of Americans still believe raising the debt limit is a greater concern than the prospect of a government default, the percentage of those worried more about a default has grown since May.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Wants Changes in Entitlements, Not Changes in Benefits
GOP Divided Over Benefit Reductions
7 Jul 11The public sees the need for changes to improve the performance and finances of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid but does not support reductions in benefits. Republicans have divisions in their ranks on entitlement reforms.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama and Bachmann Drive Economic and Election Coverage
6 Jul 11The partisan differences stalling deficit reduction talks was the top story for the second week in a row, and coverage of the presidential race ranked second, fueled largely by the entry of Michele Bachmann into the race.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

In Two Years of Economic Recovery, Women Lost Jobs, Men Found Them
6 Jul 11During the sluggish two-year recovery from the Great Recession, men have gained 768,000 jobs while women have lost 218,000 jobs. This new gender gap in employment trends represents a sharp turnabout from the recession itself, when men lost more than twice as many jobs as women. The current recovery is the first since 1970 in which women have lost jobs while men have gained them.
Social & Demographic Trends

Pessimism about National Economy Rises, Personal Financial Views Hold Steady
Obama Job Rating Declines
23 Jun 11Opinions about the state of the economy remain grim, and President Obama has lost the bump in approval he received after the killing of Osama bin Laden. For all the negativity, however, there has been little change in people's assessments of their personal financial situations.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Economy, Weiner Top Public's News Interests
Romney Most Visible GOP Candidate
22 Jun 11Mitt Romney is clearly the candidate the public says they are hearing the most news about, while mentions of Sarah Palin have plummeted over the past two weeks.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

More Say GOP Would Be Mainly Responsible If No Increase In Debt Limit
20 Jun 11Partisans express strong opinions about which side would be most responsible if no agreement is reached before the debt limit is hit.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

More Blame Wars than Domestic Spending or Tax Cuts for Nation's Debt
Jobs Are Top Economic Worry, Deficit Concerns Rise
7 Jun 11Public concern about the budget deficit has increased since the end of last year. Proposals to reduce it by raising taxes on the rich and corporations are popular.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Opposition to Ryan Medicare Plan from Older, Attentive Americans
Few Have Heard 'A Lot' About Proposal to Change Medicare
6 Jun 11There is broad, and strong, opposition to the proposal among older Americans and those who are paying a lot of attention to the issue.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

'Staunch Conservatives' Are Wary of Wall Street
More From The Political Typology
26 May 11Nearly three years after the financial crisis that sent the nation's economy into a tailspin, the public expresses mixed views of Wall Street, and more than half of Americans say that businesses make too much profit.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

More Concern about Raising Debt Limit than Government Default
24 May 11By a 48%-to-35% margin, Americans say their greater concern is that raising the debt limit would lead to higher government spending and a larger national debt than that not raising the limit would force the government into default and hurt the nation's economy.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Is College Worth It?
College Presidents, Public Assess Value, Quality and Mission of Higher Education
15 May 11College costs are rising, student debt is mounting, and the public is skeptical about the value of a college degree, according to two new Pew Research Center surveys. Meantime, only 19% of college presidents say the U.S. system is the best in the world. But more than eight-in-ten college graduates say college was a good investment for them personally.
Social & Demographic Trends

Bush Lost Battle Over the Surplus, But Won Tax Cut War
Public Opinion History
11 May 11Ten years ago this month Congress approved President Bush' first round of tax cuts. A look back at polling history examines what the public thought the cuts, the deficit and the economy a decade ago.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Why Are Gas Prices Rising?
6 May 11As gas prices soar, many Americans pin the blame on greed or a push for higher profits among oil companies, speculators and oil-producing nations.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Deficit: More Concern, Less Optimism
27 Apr 11The public increasingly views the federal budget deficit as a major problem the country must address now, but is becoming less optimistic progress will be made on the issue.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Deficit Debate: Where the Public Stands
12 Apr 11In a number of surveys over the past several months, the Pew Research Center has shown where the public stands on the budget deficit -- the seriousness of the problem, views of competing policy proposals, and its confidence in the policymakers.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Home Sweet Home. Still.
Five Years After the Bubble Burst
12 Apr 11The five-year swoon in home prices has done little to shake the confidence of the American public in the investment value of homeownership. A new survey finds that fully eight-in-ten (81%) adults agree that buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make although there has been some falloff in the intensity of the public's faith.
Social & Demographic Trends

Obama Ratings Slip Amid Economic Anxieties
Public Has Far Lower Opinion of Congress
7 Apr 11About as many now approve (47%) as disapprove (45%) of the way Obama is handling his job with the president getting especially negative ratings on his handling of the budget deficit and the overall economy. The GOP has an advantage on the budget, while Democrats are favored on traits such as concern for average people, willingness to work with the opposition, and ethics. The parties run about even on jobs and health care.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Sees Better News about Jobs, But Not Prices
Japan Disaster Still Dominates Public's News Interest
6 Apr 11While the public is hearing better news about jobs, news about prices (both gas and food) has become increasingly negative. Perceptions of the economic news vary along partisan lines, as Republicans offer a more negative assessment than do Democrats or independents.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Political Knowledge Update
Well-Known: Clinton and Gadhafi; Little Known: Who Controls Congress
31 Mar 11The public is generally aware of basic facts about several recent national and international news stories, but current politics in Washington, including the balance of power, are a mystery to many. Young adults score best on education and Facebook.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

A Century After Triangle, Unions Face Uncertain Future
Public Opinion History
23 Mar 11March 25, 2011 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a disaster widely credited with strengthening the still nascent labor union movement in the United States. Public approval of unions, which peaked in during the Depression era when many worker protections were put into law, has had its ups and downs but has hit new lows in recent years.
Pew Research Center

Republicans Are Losing Ground on the Deficit, But Obama's Not Gaining
Rising Prices Close in on Jobs as Top Economic Worry
16 Mar 11Far fewer Americans now say that Republicans in Congress have the better approach to the budget deficit than did so in November with the GOP losing ground among political independents as well as key elements of the its base, including Tea Party supporters. But the public is no more supportive of Barack Obama's approach to the budget deficit than it was in November.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

New Jobs in Recession and Recovery: Who Are Getting Them and Who Are Not
10 Mar 11In testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, the Pew Hispanic Center's Rakesh Kochhar explains why for the first time since the official end of the Great Recession in June 2009, native-born workers in the second half of 2010 joined foreign-born workers in experiencing the beginnings of a recovery in employment.
Pew Hispanic Center

Labor Unions: Good for Workers, Not for U.S. Competitiveness
Business Ratings Also Near Historic Low
17 Feb 11Favorability ratings for labor unions remain at nearly their lowest level in a quarter century with virtually no differences in opinions about private and public sector unions. Yet the public now expresses similar opinions about business corporations whose rating is also near a historic low.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Tea Party's Hard Line on Spending Divides GOP
11 Feb 11Across a wide range of issues -- including entitlements, education, agriculture and energy -- Tea Party Republicans take a much harder line on cutting federal spending than do non-Tea Party Republicans, who are far more in sync with Democrats.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Rethinking Budget Cutting
Fewer Want Spending to Grow, But Most Cuts Remain Unpopular
10 Feb 11Views about federal spending are beginning to change. Americans no longer call for more spending on many popular programs. Still, support for cutting spending remains limited, though in a few cases it has risen noticeably. The public remains reluctant either to cut spending -- or to raise taxes - to balance state budgets.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Economy, Jobs Top Public's Policy Agenda
No Consensus about Future of Health Care Legislation
20 Jan 11Americans overwhelmingly cite the economy and jobs as the most important issues facing the president and new Congress. On health care reform, roughly as many would like to see legislation expanded as have it repealed.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Friend or Foe? How Americans See China
13 Jan 11When Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Washington next week, he will be greeted by an American public that looks to Asia- -- rather than to Europe -- as the region of the world most important to U.S. interests.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

2010 Poll Findings that Will Matter in 2011
30 Dec 10On issues ranging from the rising power of China to the desirability of bipartisan cooperation and the outlook for the nation's future, Americans expressed views over the course of the past year that are likely to have consequences for the future course of U.S. policy and governance.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

For the Public, a Tough Year Ends on a Down Note
Little Progress Seen on Major Domestic Issues
15 Dec 10Consistent with the mood of the nation all year, 2010 is closing on a down note -- but not as low as in December 2008. Fully 72% are dissatisfied with national conditions, 89% rate national economic conditions as only fair or poor, and majorities or pluralities think the country is losing ground on nine of 12 major issues.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Reagan's Recession
14 Dec 10In the depths of the 1981-1982 recession, Americans were far more displeased with their president and his policies than were their predecessors during the Great Depression, more so even than in today's high-unemployment economy.
Pew Research Center

How a Different America Responded to the Great Depression
14 Dec 10The American public's sour mood is in interesting contrast with many of the public's views during the Great Depression of the 1930s, not only on economic, political and social issues, but also on the role of government in addressing them.
Pew Research Center

Tax Deal Wins Broad Bipartisan Support
Liberal Democrats Are on Board
13 Dec 10The public views the tax agreement between Obama and congressional Republicans as beneficial to both the economy and their personal finances. There are virtually no partisan differences in opinions about the agreement.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Deficit Solutions Meet With Public Skepticism
Consensus in Principle, Resistance in Practice
9 Dec 10While an overwhelming number of Americans deem the deficit a major problem that must be dealt with now, few are willing to support specific proposals to address the issue. On dealing with the deficit, Obama has more credibility than Republican congressional leaders.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Mixed Views on Tax Cuts, Support for START and Allowing Gays to Serve Openly
7 Dec 10With the public giving subpar approval ratings to President Obama and continuing to express negative views of Congress and the political parties, it goes its own way on many of the remaining issues before the lame-duck Congress.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Knows Basic Facts about Politics, Economics, But Struggles with Specifics
Few Aware of Inflation Rate or TARP and Deficit Specifics
18 Nov 10Americans see the big picture when it comes to the changing balance of power in Washington, but is not sure which party controls which house of Congress or who the next speaker will be. Many have a good idea about the growth of the federal deficit, but the public struggles with questions about specifics of the budget, TARP and inflation.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Americans Are of Two Minds on Trade
More Trade, Mostly Good; Free Trade Pacts, Not So
9 Nov 10The public wants increased trade with Canada, Japan and several other countries (China and South Korea being notable exceptions), but support for free trade agreements is at a 13-year low, and more say trade agreements have negative rather than positive impact on jobs, wages and economic growth.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

After the Great Recession: Foreign Born Gain Jobs; Native Born Lose Jobs
29 Oct 10Immigrants are gaining jobs at a time when native-born workers continue to sustain losses. Foreign-born workers job gains may be the result of greater flexibility with regard to wages and hours of work or greater mobility. But despite rising employment, immigrants have experienced a sharp decline in earnings as well as a still substantial net loss in jobs.
Pew Hispanic Center

Is the Recession Linked to Fewer Marriages?
22 Oct 10When researchers look at possible links among social, economic and demographic trends -- such as the current recession and declining marriage rates -- they face a challenge. Two trends may be heading in the same direction, but are they related? Correlation, the statisticians frequently warn, is no guarantee of causation.
Social & Demographic Trends

One Recession, Two Americas
Those Who Lost Ground Slightly Outnumber Those Who Held Their Own
24 Sep 10For a narrow majority of Americans (55%), the Great Recession brought a mix of unemployment, missed mortgage or rent payments, shrinking paychecks and shattered household budgets. But for the other 45%, the recession was largely free of such difficulties.
Social & Demographic Trends

Taxed Enough Already?
Despite Anti-Government Sentiment, More Americans Say They Pay a Fair Share of Taxes
20 Sep 10Despite all the animosity aimed at Washington, one usual political punching bag is actually not seen as villainous as it once was: taxes. More say they pay about the right amount in taxes than say they pay more than their fair share.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Walking Away
A Third of Public Says It’s Sometimes OK for Homeowners to Stop Making Mortgage Payments
15 Sep 10Nearly six-in-ten Americans say it is “unacceptable” for homeowners to stop making their mortgage payments, but more than a third say the practice of “walking away” from a home mortgage is acceptable under certain circumstances. Homeowners whose home values declined during the recession and those who have spent time unemployed are more likely to say that “walking away” from a mortgage is acceptable.
Social & Demographic Trends

Mixed Views of GOP Proposals on Entitlements
GOP Still Viewed as Leaderless -- Even by Republicans
14 Sep 10While a majority of Americans favors allowing changes to Social Security, there is very little support for replacing Medicare with a voucher system. Also, the public continues to see no clear leader atop the GOP.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Most 'Re-employed' Workers Say They're Overqualified for Their New Job
2 Sep 10Workers who suffered a spell of unemployment during the recession are, on average, less satisfied with their new jobs than workers who didn’t. These re-employed workers also are more likely to consider themselves over-qualified for their current position. And six-in-ten say they changed careers or seriously thought about it while they were unemployed.
Social & Demographic Trends

Obama's Policies Seen as Better than Bush's for Improving the Economy
Both Parties Doing Poor Job Working Together, Offering Solutions
26 Jul 10As Congress gears up for debate over the tax cuts passed when Bush was president, the public is divided, with roughly equal numbers in favor of keeping all of Bush's tax cuts, repealing only those for wealthy Americans, or scrapping them entirely.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Lost Income, Lost Friends -- and Loss of Self-Respect
The Impact of Long-Term Unemployment
22 Jul 10A new Pew Research Center survey finds the long-term unemployed are more likely than the short-term unemployed not only to have lost income, but also to have lost contact with close friends, suffered strains in family relations and lost some self-respect and confidence in their long-term career prospects.
Social & Demographic Trends

The Great Recession at 30 Months
Half of Work Force Has Taken a Job-Related Hit, but Some Green Shoots of Optimism
30 Jun 10More than half (55%) of adults in the labor force say that since the economic slump began 30 months ago, they have suffered a spell of unemployment, a cut in pay, a reduction in hours or have become involuntary part-time workers; the recession has also led to a new frugality and diminished expectations about retirement and their children's future.
Social & Demographic Trends

Public Uncertain How to Improve Job Situation
21 Jun 10There is broad public agreement that past government policies intended to address the financial crisis and recession have not worked. At the same time, there is very little agreement about what the government should do now to deal with the nation’s biggest economic concern -- the job situation.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Doubts About Obama's Economic Policies Rose Over the Last Year
Congressional Connection Poll
8 Jun 10For the first time, slightly more say the impact of Obama's economic policies has been negative rather than positive; many see recovery as distant; views on financial reforms are mixed.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Pessimistic Public Doubts Effectiveness of Stimulus, TARP
Republicans Draw Even With Democrats on Most Issues
28 Apr 10As has been the case for most of the past two years, about nine-in-ten rate national economic conditions as only fair or poor. As a political consequence, the Democratic Party has lost ground to the Republican Party on a wide range of issues, including the job situation.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Distrust, Discontent, Anger and Partisan Rancor
The People and Their Government
18 Apr 10By almost every conceivable measure Americans are less positive and more critical of government these days.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Remains Focused on Health Care Reform
News on Jobs Still Seen as Mostly Bad
7 Apr 10Close to half the public (48%) followed news about the new health care law most closely last week, dwarfing the 8% following the other top policy story, the economy, that closely
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Deficit Concerns Rise, But Solutions Are Elusive
GOP's Lead on Handling Deficit Mirrors '94
10 Mar 10While an increasing number of Americans cite addressing the government's red ink as a priority, there is not much support for spending cuts, regardless of party.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Favorability Ratings of Labor Unions Fall Sharply
23 Feb 10Favorable views of labor unions have plummeted since 2007, amid growing public skepticism about unions' purpose and power. Currently, 41% say they have a favorable opinion of labor unions while about as many (42%) express an unfavorable opinion.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Midterm Election Challenges for Both Parties
Obama's Ratings Are Flat, Wall Street's Are Abysmal
12 Feb 10Opinions of the Republican Party have improved significantly but still far more people blame the GOP for the poor economy than blame the Democrats. Anti-incumbent sentiment runs high: three-in-ten don't want to see their current representative reelected. Financial institutions remain a major target of public anger.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Surplus of Deficit Coverage
11 Feb 10For the first time in nearly two months, coverage of the economy led the news agenda, driven by Obama's release of his $3.8 trillion budget.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

It's All About Jobs, Except When It's Not
Unemployment and Presidential Approval Ratings 1981-2009
26 Jan 10A look at the connection between the rise and fall of joblessness and the political fortunes of past presidents in the modern era is instructive although the lessons to be drawn are far from crystal clear. Thus far, only Ronald Reagan’s ratings in his first term have borne as close a connection as have Obama’s to changes in the unemployment rate.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

New Economics of Marriage: The Rise of Wives
19 Jan 10A larger share of women today, compared with their 1970 counterparts, have more education and income than their spouses. As a result, in recent decades the economic gains associated with marriage have been greater for men than for women.
Social & Demographic Trends

Did 'We' Want to Do It?
7 Jan 10With women about to become the majority of the U.S. workforce, how do most of today's Rosie the Riveters feel about being "put to more productive use?" In a word: ambivalent.
Pew Research Center

At Year's End, Nation Remains Divided
Splits on Obama, Afghanistan and Health Care
16 Dec 09As has been the case since October, roughly half the country approves of President Obama's job. The nation is also divided on Afghanistan and health care. One rare point of agreement, though, is that the economy remains poor.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

How the Economy May Sway 2010 Governors' Races
18 Nov 09The tax hikes that so many states levied to plug holes in their recession-ravaged budgets this year could endanger some incumbent governors' careers in 2010 when 37 gubernatorial contests are at stake.
Special to the Pew Research Center

Battle of the Budget Bulge
Are Americans Ready to Trim Their Government Waistline?
12 Nov 09Americans are famous both for being weight conscious, and at the same time unable to come to terms successfully with their bloated waistlines. The same paradox has applied to how the public looks at budget deficits for a very long time.
Pew Research Center

A Year Out, Widespread Anti-Incumbent Sentiment
Obama's Afghanistan Rating Declines
11 Nov 09The mood of America is glum. Most are dissatisfied with the state of the nation, economic conditions, personal finances and an increasing number say the war in Afghanistan is not going well. Still, a majority continues to approve of Obama's job as president.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Swine Flu Interest Outpaces Coverage
68% Hearing "Mostly Bad News" about Jobs
5 Nov 09The public's impression of economic news remains mixed at best, with 68% hearing "mostly bad news" about jobs.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Mixed Views of Economic Policies and Health Care Reform Persist
8 Oct 09Most Americans remain optimistic that Barack Obama’s policies will help the economy, but see no clear signs of recovery yet; many key provisions of health care reform remain popular but support for the overall package has slipped.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Covering the Great Recession
How the Media Have Depicted the Economic Crisis
5 Oct 09The gravest economic crisis since the Great Depression has been covered in the media largely from the top down, told primarily from the perspective of the Obama administration and big business.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Take this Job and Love It
Self-Employed Significantly More Satisfied With Jobs
17 Sep 09The self-employed are far more satisfied with their jobs and more likely to work because they want to and not for a paycheck. But if you decide to strike out on your own, don't count on financial security.
Social & Demographic Trends

Americans Researching the Recession Also Look for Digital Diversions
10 Sep 09Most Americans who have turned to online sources for economic information have also used the internet to take their minds off of their financial troubles, especially younger online economic users.
Pew Internet & American Life Project

Most Plan to Watch Obama Speech
Health Care Reform Interesting, but Hard to Understand
8 Sep 09Interest in health care reform remains extremely high, but two-thirds continue to say the issue is hard to understand.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Recession Turns a Graying Office Grayer
America’s Changing Work Force
3 Sep 09Older adults are staying in the labor force longer, and younger adults are staying out of it longer. Both trends intensified with the recession and are expected to continue after the economy recovers. One reason: Older workers value not just a paycheck, but the psychological and social rewards.
Social & Demographic Trends

International Stories Don't Register
Public Takes Note of Swine Flu Vaccine
26 Aug 09While health care is the public's top story, as many heard about Brett Farve as protesters bringing guns to town halls. Most heard news about the availability of swine flu vaccines.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Souring on Washington
Democratic Party Favorability Falls Sharply
19 Aug 09More say the president and GOP leaders are not working together, as Obama's approval inches lower and the Democratic Party's favorability falls sharply. Opinion about the economy remains negative with personal financial assessments becoming more bearish.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Americans Hear Improvement in Tone of Economic News
Health Care Town Halls Register Widely
12 Aug 09Americans are hearing better news coverage about financial markets, real estate and prices. Also, as the health care debate tops interest, town hall protests register widely, with a majority calling the behavior appropriate.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Confidence in Obama Lifts U.S. Image Around the World
Most Muslim Publics Not So Easily Moved
23 Jul 09In many countries opinions of the United States are now about as positive as they were at the beginning of the decade before George W. Bush took office. Improvements in the U.S. image have been most pronounced in Western Europe, where favorable ratings for both the nation and the American people have soared. But opinions of America have also become more positive in key countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well. Signs of improvement in views of America are seen even in some predominantly Muslim countries.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Health Reform Interests but Confuses Public
Rising Criticism of Government's Handling of the Economy
22 Jul 09Nearly all Americans say health care reform is important, and most even consider the debate interesting rather than boring. But many are also confused by it, and want more news coverage. Also, Americans have grown more critical of the government's handling of the economy.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Recession Dot Net
15 Jul 09More than two-thirds of Americans have logged on to the internet looking for financial information. Of these "online economic users" most are looking for good deals and job opportunities. More said that what they learned on the internet made them more anxious than said they were made more confident.
Pew Internet & American Life Project

Media Won't Quit on Palin, Jackson
Celebrities Dominate News Agenda
14 Jul 09With the assistance of plenty of media self-examination, two polarizing celebrities drove the news agenda.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Wilted Green Shoots
8 Jul 09The number of Americans hearing mostly negative economic news has been steadily rising since May, especially among independents.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Pollwatch: Comparing the Polls on Spending and the Deficit
24 Jun 09How the question is phrased has a clear impact on whether the public rates deficit reduction or stimulus spending more important.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public More Optimistic About the Economy, But Still Reluctant to Spend
19 Jun 09Increasingly, Americans express the view that the nation’s economy will improve in the next year, and a growing number also expect their personal finances to get better. But this has not caused people to open their wallets.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama's High Ratings Hold Despite Some Policy Concerns
18 Jun 09A solid majority of Americans continue to approve of Barack Obama’s job performance, although they express mixed views of several of his policies. Only about one-in-five Americans (21%) say the U.S. is less safe from terrorism under the Obama administration than under the Bush administration
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Job Situation is Bad News
17 Jun 09While Americans say they are hearing more of a mix of good and bad news about prices, financial markets and real estate, news about jobs is seen as overwhelmingly bad.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Cockeyed Optimists or Self-Fulfilling Prophets?
17 Jun 09Even while their personal worries have deepened, Americans have been feeling more upbeat about the national economy's prospects and less concerned about rising inequality. What underlies this trend and can it be sustained?
Pew Research Center

Gen Next Squeezed By Recession, But Most See Better Times Ahead
Young Are More Liberal in Views of Gov’t, Traditional Values
5 Jun 09While the economic downturn is falling quite heavily on younger Americans, their overall outlook remains optimistic. A new survey also finds Generation Next expressing more liberal views when compared with older age cohorts as well as evidence of increased political engagement.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Not That Into Terror Debate
Too Much Steroids and Flu News, Not Enough Pakistan
28 May 09While the media may love a political fight, Americans say they are following stories about money and health.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Most Middle-Aged Adults Are Rethinking Retirement Plans
The Threshold Generation
28 May 09In the midst of a recession that has taken a heavy toll on many nest eggs, just over half of all working adults ages 50 to 64 say they may delay their retirement -- and another 16% say they never expect to stop working.
Social & Demographic Trends

Beltway Battle Bumps Economy
27 May 09With a political-conflict narrative, terrorism -- almost untouched by the media last year -- has supplanted the recession as the top story.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Independents Take Center Stage in the Obama Era
Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2009
21 May 09Centrism has emerged as a dominant factor in public opinion as the Obama administration begins. Republicans and Democrats are even more divided than in the past, while the growing political middle is steadfastly mixed in its beliefs about government, the free market and other values that underlie views on contemporary issues and policies. Both political parties have lost adherents since the election and an increasing number of Americans identify as independents.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Car Dealership Closings Draw Wide Attention
"American Idol" Still Gets Nation's Vote
20 May 09News about the car dealership closings is as big as last fall's bank failings. Also, who watches "Idol"?
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Not Your Grandfather's Recession -- Literally
Different Ages, Different Downturns
14 May 09Relatively speaking, older Americans' attitudes and lifestyles have been less affected by the economic slump than have those of younger Americans. Meantime, the "Threshold Generation," people nearing retirement, have been hardest hit, as they’ve seen their nest eggs shrink the most.
Social & Demographic Trends

Public Sees Less Glum News About Economy
Swine Flu Interest High But Flagging
13 May 09Gender gaps emerge on top stories. Men follow the economy and Manny; women prefer the flu and first face transplant operation.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Feed an Economy, Starve a Flu
12 May 09With the virus no longer so deadly, the press turned to financial and foreign-policy fears.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama Coverage:Too Personal but Not Too Favorable
Majorities Say Right Amount on Leadership and Policies
29 Apr 09Most Americans say the news media has devoted too much coverage to Barack Obama's family and personal life, but the right amount to his leadership style and policy proposals.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Support for Free Trade Recovers Despite Recession
28 Apr 09Despite the economic recession, support for free trade agreements is up by nine percentage points -- from 35% to 44% -- putting positive opinions of trade back in line with long-term trends. People in low-income families and Democrats are much more supportive of trade now than they were a year ago.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Tea Party Protests, Pirates & Puppies
24 Apr 09Unlike past weeks, social media looked a lot like the mainstream media.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama at 100 Days: Strong Job Approval, Even Higher Personal Ratings
Better Ratings for Foreign Policy than Domestic Issues
23 Apr 09As he approaches the 100-day mark of his presidency, Barack Obama’s job approval ratings are higher than those of his most recent predecessors. However, the 44th president is even more distinguished by his strong personal popularity.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Luxury or Necessity? The Public Makes a U-Turn
23 Apr 09From the kitchen to the laundry room to the home entertainment center, Americans are paring down the list of familiar household appliances they say they can't live without.
Social & Demographic Trends

Stock in Economic Story Drops
Tea Parties: Fox News vs. MSNBC
21 Apr 09As news about the economy gets modestly better the story is attracting less press than it did when things seemed more dire. "Tea parties" Rorschach test for media.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Most Now Say News Paints Mixed Economic Picture
Many Follow Somali Pirate Story
15 Apr 09Far more Republicans hearing at least some good economic news.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

A Portrait of Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States
14 Apr 09Unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. are more geographically dispersed than in the past and are more likely than either U.S.-born residents or legal immigrants to live in a household with a spouse and children. But the recent rapid growth in the undocumented immigrant labor force has come to a halt. The new report also includes population and labor force estimates for each state.
Pew Hispanic Center

Pirates Capture Media
14 Apr 09Press coverage of the economic meltdown hit a record low for the year last week. Pirate drama was the No. 1 story online, in network TV, radio news and cable news.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama's Trip Closely Followed
More Women Than Men Track Royal Visit
8 Apr 09Obama's trip to the G-20 summit got a good deal more attention than Bush's first international summit travel in 2001.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Partisan Bickering Is Back, Says Public
Obama's Ratings Hold Steady, Trip Well-Received
8 Apr 09Obama continues to inspire confidence on economic matters, as majorities believe his policies will both improve economic conditions (66%) and reduce the budget deficit over time (54%). There has been no improvement in the GOP's image.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Media Follow Obama, Economy to Europe
Michelle Obama Was the No. 2 Newsmaker of the Week
8 Apr 09The president's trip abroad gives an international flavor to a now familiar story.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Public Knows Basic Facts About Financial Crisis
More Know Unemployment Rate than Dow Average
2 Apr 09High percentages of Americans know that the government assistance to banks is aimed at getting them to lend more money, not less money and that China is the foreign country holding the most U.S. government debt. Notably, more Americans know the current unemployment rate than the current level of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Geithner's Plan: From Goat to Godsend
31 Mar 09AIG rage was replaced -- at least for a week -- by media praise for a previous economic "villain's" bank plan.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Before the Current Recession, a Phantom Recovery
Testimony of Pew Research Center Executive Vice President Paul Taylor before the Senate Finance Committee
26 Mar 09Pew Research Center Executive Vice President Paul Taylor's full testimony to the Senate Finance Committee.
Social & Demographic Trends

The Phantom Recovery
26 Mar 09The eight-year period from 1999 through 2007 is the longest in modern U.S. economic history in which inflation-adjusted median household income failed to surpass an earlier peak.
Social & Demographic Trends

AIG Taxes Broadly Supported
Echoes of Dubai Ports Deal
25 Mar 09Most Americans found the media attention the AIG received appropriate and a majority supports Congress' response to tax the bonuses.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

For the Media, AIG Is All the Rage
24 Mar 09Last week, the narrative for a complex economic crisis got much simpler. The coverage focused on one corporate villain and one angry public.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Public Sees More of a Mix of Good and Bad Economic News
Stewart-Cramer Registers Less than Rihanna-Chris Brown
18 Mar 09Though the economy remains the top story, more Americans say they heard a lot about the reports of Chris Brown abusing Rihanna than the dispute between Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Media Match: Cramer vs. Stewart
17 Mar 09Press focus turned to the hunt for people or institutions embodying the excess that contributed to the financial system's unraveling.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama's Approval Rating Slips Amid Division Over Economic Proposals
GOP Congressional Leaders’ Ratings Hit New Low
16 Mar 09Most people think the new president is doing as much as he can to fix the economy, but the public expresses mixed views of his many major proposals to fix the economy. The public overwhelmingly supports Obama’s plan to remove most combat troops from Iraq by the end of August but a much narrower majority supports his planned troop buildup in Afghanistan.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Losing Wealth, Finding God?
13 Mar 09Is the falling economy raising attendance at religious services?
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Socialism, American-Style
We love the free market, but fear corporations and global competition, and depend on Uncle Sam to keep us safe
12 Mar 09We love the free market, but fear corporations and global competition, and depend on Uncle Sam to keep us safe.
Pew Research Center

Media Get on Dow Rollercoaster
Limbaugh No. 2 Newsmaker of the Week
10 Mar 09Last week marked the fourth time in four weeks that a different component of the economic crisis was the top storyline.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Eastern Europe: A Crisis of Confidence in Capitalism?
5 Mar 09The economic crisis could have troubling implications for public opinion in the former Eastern Bloc, where support for capitalism had been on the rise, but still remained weaker than in Western Europe and most other regions of the world.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

States' Budget Woes Register With Public
Republicans Increasingly Critical of Obama
5 Mar 09Interest in Obama’s speech to Congress was comparable to interest in Bush’s 2003 State of the Union, in which he made his case for war with Iraq.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obamanomics: No Deficit in Press
Endgame in Iraq Not Big News
4 Mar 09A developing media meta narrative focused on the president's high stakes overhaul of domestic priorities implicit in his budget proposals.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Facebook About-Face
27 Feb 09While the economy dominated conversation online, a good many bloggers focused on a policy change made and then withdrawn at Facebook, a demonstration of the power of social media.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Suburbs Not Most Popular, But Suburbanites Most Content
26 Feb 09Suburbanites are significantly more satisfied with their communities than are residents of cities, small towns or rural areas, but that doesn't mean Americans want to live there.
Social & Demographic Trends

Supply & Demand: Crisis Eclipses All Other News
24 Feb 09With the stimulus passed, the media moved to other economic horror stories: foreclosures, the auto industry and bailouts.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

With Crisis As Catalyst, State Governors Push Big Changes
20 Feb 09Governors are using the economic crisis to sell big changes in how state and local jurisdictions operate, promising overhauls that could alter the face of government around the country.
Special to the Pew Research Center

On the Economy, Bad News Better Than No News
Stimulus Passage Tops News Coverage and Interest
19 Feb 09Americans overwhelmingly feel better knowing what's going on even if it's bad news, but significantly more now say that reports about the economy have some good sides.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

No Place Like Home -- Even if the Value Is in the Tank
19 Feb 09Not even a housing-led recession can shake Americans' faith in the blessings of homeownership.
Social & Demographic Trends

Jobs Worries Climb the Economic Ladder
More Workers Anticipate Pay Cuts, Layoffs
12 Feb 09For the public, the continuing financial crisis has been overtaken by a jobs crisis; the proportion citing jobs or unemployment as the nation’s most important economic problem has more than quadrupled to 42% since early October and concern about job loss has climbed steeply among affluent Americans.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Immigrant Latino Unemployment Rises Sharply
12 Feb 09Job loss data reveal a rapidly worsening situation for foreign-born Hispanics, native-born Hispanics and blacks in the labor market.
Pew Hispanic Center

Stimulus News Seen as More Negative Than Positive
Too Much Coverage of Phelps, Octuplets
11 Feb 09Most Americans are following the debate over the stimulus package closely but many want to hear more information on the specifics of the proposals.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Support for Stimulus Plan Slips, But Obama Rides High
92% View Obama as Good Communicator
9 Feb 09Although support for the economic stimulus package has weakened over the last month, President Obama's personal image is extremely strong with fully 92% of the public rating him a good communicator. And the belief that Obama represents a break from politics as usual is widespread, despite the highly partisan reaction to his economic stimulus proposal.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Plane Crash Draws as Much Interest as Economy
23 Jan 09Among domestic airline and train accidents of recent years, only one -- the deadly crash of TWA flight 800 off the coast of New York in 1996 -- attracted significantly greater public interest than the dramatic emergency landing of US Airways flight 1549 in New York’s Hudson River.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

On Obama's Desk: Economy, Jobs Trump All Other Policy Priorities
Environment, Immigration, Health Care Slip Down the List
22 Jan 09While it is not unusual for Americans to prioritize domestic over foreign policy, a new survey finds strengthening the economy and improving the job situation are higher priorities today than they have been at any point over the past decade, and the recent upward trend has been steep.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Economy Is a Tough Subject for the Nation's Public Schools
21 Jan 09States traditionally have been reluctant to cut school funding during hard times, but in the current severe downturn schools are not immune.
Special to the Pew Research Center

Hispanics and the Economic Downturn: Housing Woes and Remittance Cuts
8 Jan 09Latinos, especially the foreign-born, are feeling the sting of the economic downturn and, in some respects, even more so than the general population.
Pew Hispanic Center

Gains Seen On Minority Discrimination -- But Little Else
Americans Assess Progress on National Problems
7 Jan 09As Obama prepares to take office, majorities say the country is losing ground on many key issues, especially economic ones.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

States of the Union Before and After Bush
5 Jan 09What a difference eight years can make -- or not. As shown in a series of tables, some things have changed a great deal since George W. Bush was elected president in 2000, but other things, most notably certain American beliefs and attitudes, have remained remarkably constant.
Pew Research Center

Bearish Outlook Fuels Consumer Cutbacks
11 Dec 08Nearly six-in-ten who say they are cutting back or delaying purchases report they are doing so because they worry things might get worse. Fewer than one in four say they are cutting back because their own financial situation has worsened. Lower fuel and food costs do not appear to have had a positive impact on the public so far.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Depressed Economy Wallops States
24 Oct 08With calendar 2008 nearing an end, Stateline.org's annual state-by-state review of major accomplishments finds lawmakers girding for big spending cuts in 2009 and beyond.
Special to the Pew Research Center

Public Worried But Not Panicked About Economy
Obama Clearer than McCain in Addressing Crisis, Holds Sizeable Lead in Matchup
15 Oct 08Americans are concerned about the nation’s economic problems and they register the lowest level of national satisfaction ever measured in a Pew survey. But there is little indication that the nation’s financial crisis has triggered public panic or despair.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Escalating Financial Crisis Grips States
10 Oct 08A week after President Bush signed a $700-billion bailout plan for Wall Street, the financial crisis has deepened in many state capitals with tight credit markets and new, pessimistic budget figures that pose the biggest threat to states' fiscal health in 25 years.
Special to the Pew Research Center

Economic Bailout: Public Remains Closely Divided Overall, but Partisan Support Shifts
6 Oct 08The relative stability in the overall numbers obscures considerable movement in public opinion about the package recently passed by Congress.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Bad Rap on the Bailout Bill
1 Oct 08Members who voted against the original House bill are said to be responding to strong opposition to the rescue plan from their constituents, but that’s not what most Americans are saying.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Small Plurality Backs Bailout Plan
Support Declines as Anger Runs High
30 Sep 08There is little partisan difference in views of the overall plan. Republicans, however, are less concerned about protecting homeowners although they are not particularly worried about excessive government involvement in the nation's financial markets.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Most Approve of Wall Street Bailout and See Obama as Better Able to Address Crisis
Interest in the Economy Highest in Nearly 20 Years
23 Sep 08With public interest in the economy at a 20-year high, by a margin of almost two-to-one Americans think the government is doing the right thing in investing billions of dollars to try to keep financial institutions and markets secure.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Tracking the Economic Slowdown
18 Aug 08The slowing economy has replaced Iraq as the second most intensely covered story so far in 2008 according to a new study of media content. However, it still trails far behind the presidential campaign.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Inflation Staggers Public but Economy Still Seen As Fixable
31 Jul 08Beyond widespread anxiety about energy costs, a growing number of Americans say it is difficult for them to afford food. Yet most are confident that even in an era of global economic interdependence the federal government is capable of fixing the economy
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Gas Prices Dominate the Public's Economic News Agenda
Fewer Following Midwest Floods than in 1993
19 Jun 08As economic news continues to register at an almost record level with the public, no other issue gets close to the level of attention accorded the price of oil and gas. Fully 72% of Americans say it is the economic or fiscal problem they've heard the most about.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Latino Labor Report, 2008: Construction Reverses Job Growth for Latinos
4 Jun 08The slump in the construction industry has taken a heavy toll on Latino workers. From a historic low in late 2006, the unemployment rate for Latinos rose sharply in 2007 and currently stands well above the rate for non-Latinos. Immigrant Latino workers have been hit especially hard.
Pew Hispanic Center

The Middle Class Blues: Pricey Neighborhoods, High Stress
29 May 08When it comes to anxiety about family finances, an old truism applies: Where you stand depends on where you sit. Or, more precisely, on where your house or apartment sits.
Social & Demographic Trends

Feeling Guilty: Americans Say They Aren't Saving Enough
14 May 08Most Americans at every income level and in every demographic group worry they aren't putting enough aside for the future -- but they're apparently not worried enough to do much about it, a new survey finds.
Social & Demographic Trends

Hard Hats See Hard Times
Rising Worries About the Job Market
7 May 08While the latest statistics reported fewer job losses than analysts expected, the public is expressing increasing concern about job availability; but unlike in the 1992 downturn, such worries are concentrated in the lower portions of the income spectrum.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Who Wants To Be Rich?
The Currently Hard-Pressed Put a Higher Personal Priority on Being Wealthy than Do the Well-to-Do
30 Apr 08Anyone who thinks that Americans worship at the feet of the almighty dollar should ask the American public. In fact, a new Social Trends survey finds only 13% of adults say it's "very important" for them to be wealthy, ranking this personal priority far behind six others measured.
Social & Demographic Trends

You're Laid Off
A Worsening Economy Couldn't Come at a Worse Time for Many U.S. Workers
16 Apr 08At a time when the U.S. economy is faltering, one out of every seven U.S. workers -- especially those who have already hit hard times in the recent past -- fear they will be laid off in the next 12 months.
Social & Demographic Trends

Inside the Middle Class: Bad Times Hit the Good Life
9 Apr 08A new Pew Social Trends study finds that fewer Americans now than at any time in the past half century believe they're moving forward in life. But at the same time, two-thirds say they have a higher standard of living than their parents had.
Social & Demographic Trends

Dismal Views of the National Economy : It's the Inflation, Stupid
27 Mar 08Public satisfaction with the state of the nation is about as low as it has been in 20 years of Pew polling; but optimism about the future rises somewhat.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Economic Discontent Deepens As Inflation Concerns Rise
Growing Rich-Poor Divide in Affording Necessities
14 Feb 08Public views of the U.S. economy, already quite negative, have plummeted since January. Just 17% currently rate the nation's economy as excellent or good, down from 26% last month.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Election-Year Economic Ratings Lowest Since '92
An Even More Partisan Agenda Greets Bush's Final State of the Union
24 Jan 08Republicans and Democrats agree the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress, but they differ more than ever on the importance of other domestic issues -- such as global warming and health insurance for the uninsured.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Interest Surges in Economic News, Especially the Housing Crisis
24 Jan 08Public interest in economic news reached its highest level in five years. Interest was only somewhat greater during the recession of the early 1990s.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Tracking the Traders
A Look at the Buyers and Sellers Who Make the Stock Market Go Up and Down
19 Nov 07A look at the attitudes of the regular buyers and sellers who make the stock market go up and down finds they are, among other things, even more likely to support the frontrunners in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Economic Pessimism Grows as Nation's Real Estate Slump Hits Wealthy Areas
Republicans Less Upbeat About Economy and Housing Markets
11 Oct 07Public assessments of the nation's economy have fallen to a two-year low. Faced with a steady stream of negative news about the housing market, Americans are substantially less inclined than they were even a few months ago to say they expect home prices to rise over the next few years.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

A Nation of "Haves" and "Have-Nots"?
Far More Americans Now See Their Country as Sharply Divided Along Economic Lines
13 Sep 07Over the past two decades, the number of Americans who see the country as divided along economic lines has increased sharply, and twice as many people now see themselves among the society's "have-nots."
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Who Watches Wall Street?
Interest in the Stock Market Is Currently Relatively High, but Only a Minority of Americans Regularly Follows Financial News
23 Aug 07Interest in the stock market is currently relatively high, but only a minority of Americans regularly follows economic news unless, like gas and food prices, it hits directly on the average pocketbook.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

1995-2005: Foreign-Born Latinos Make Progress on Wages
21 Aug 07Foreign-born Latino workers made notable progress between 1995 and 2005 when ranked by hourly wage. The proportion of foreign-born Latino workers in the lowest quintile of the wage distribution decreased to 36% from 42% while many workers moved into the middle quintiles.
Pew Hispanic Center

Are Americans out of Sync with Economic Reality?
They're Far More Optimistic then the Experts about the Housing Market but Much More Pessimistic about the Overall Economy
20 Jun 07Americans are far more optimistic than most real estate experts about the outlook for home prices but far more pessimistic than most economists and Wall Street watchers about the overall economic outlook.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Construction Jobs Expand for Latinos Despite Slump in Housing Market
Foreign-Born Fill Vast Majority of New Jobs
7 Mar 07Despite the housing slump, Hispanic workers find a ready market for their skills.
Pew Hispanic Center

War Support Slips, Fewer See Positive Outcome
New Poll Also Finds Growing Pessimism about Deficit, Rich-Poor Gap
15 Feb 07Two-thirds of the public now says that the U.S. military effort in Iraq is not going well, reflecting a sharp increase in the last year. And most say the country is also losing ground in problem areas from the federal budget to corruption to the environment.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

What Americans Pay For - and How
'Information Age' Bills Keep Piling Up
7 Feb 07Bill-paying is a different experience now than it was a generation ago. A sizable minority of adults pay by click. And a sizable majority pay each month for one or more of the big three Information Age staples that didn't exist or were in their infancy a few decades back -- cell phones, internet service and cable and satellite television.
Pew Research Center

We Try Hard. We Fall Short. Americans Assess Their Saving Habits
24 Jan 07Despite a negative national savings rate, three-in-four Americans still think of themselves as savers. But a majority also acknowledge they don't save enough, according to a new Pew survey.
Pew Research Center

Most Americans Moderately Upbeat About Family Finances in 2007
4 Jan 07Most Americans are moderately upbeat about their family's financial prospects in the coming year, with 57% expecting some improvement in their financial situation and another 10% expecting a lot of improvement, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
Pew Research Center

The Complicated Politics of Free Trade
Unrestricted Trade Makes for Strange Political Bedfellows
4 Jan 07Crafting effective U.S. trade policies in an era of rapid economic globalization is tough. But the politics of free trade are even tougher -- particularly for Democrats, according to a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Free Trade Agreements Get a Mixed Review
51% Say U.S. Has Responsibility to "Do Something" in Darfur
19 Dec 06The American public continues to have a mixed opinion about free trade agreements such as NAFTA and the WTO. On balance they are seen as a good thing for the country, but Americans are divided over the impact of free trade agreements on their own personal financial situations.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Luxury or Necessity?
Things We Can't Live Without: The List Has Grown in the Past Decade
14 Dec 06As Americans navigate increasingly crowded lives, the number of things they say they can't live without has multiplied in the past decade, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that asks whether a broad array of everyday consumer products are luxuries or necessities.
Pew Research Center

As Home Prices Cool Down, Homeowners Temper Their Optimism
6 Dec 06Despite a record drop this past year in the median sales price of existing homes, more than eight-in-ten homeowners expect the value of their homes to go up either "a little" (55%) or "a lot" (26%) in the future. However, these anticipated levels of future gains are not nearly as great as the gains that homeowners say they've experienced in recent years.
Pew Research Center

It's Time for Holiday Shopping. Do You Have Your Budget?
20 Nov 06A majority of Americans say they set a budget limit for their holiday shopping; 56% have already set or plan to set a limit while 41% say they don't use a budget limit for holiday shopping.
Pew Research Center

Democrats Hold Double-Digit Lead in Competitive Districts
GOP Troubles Extend into Home Territory
26 Oct 06The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press shows that Iraq continues to be the dominant issue for voters. More than four-in-ten voters (45%) view the situation in Iraq as the most important, or second most important issue in their vote, the highest percentage for the six issues tested.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Iraq Looms Large in a Nationalized Election
Congressional Race Unchanged After Foley's Resignation
5 Oct 06A new poll finds dismay about U.S. military action in Iraq at its highest level since the war began and many voters say the issue will be primary in their ballot decisions come November. Resignation of Rep. Foley has little impact so far.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

41.9 Million and Counting
A Statistical View of Hispanics at Mid-Decade
28 Sep 06A statistical view of Hispanics at mid-decade
Pew Hispanic Center

Digital 'Natives' Invade the Workplace
Young people may be newcomers to the world of work, but it's their bosses who are immigrants into the digital world
28 Sep 06Newcomers to the world of work may find that their bosses are strangers in the digital world
Pew Internet & American Life Project

Working After Retirement: The Gap Between Expectations and Reality
21 Sep 06A new Pew Social Trends survey finds a yawning gap between the expectations of today's workers, more than three-quarters of whom believe they will work for pay even after they retire, and current retirees, just 12% of whom are actually working for pay right now.
Pew Research Center

In the States, Maximum Activity on Minimum Wages
Minimum-Wage Hikes Sweep States
21 Sep 06An interactive look at how this hot issue is playing out across the country
Stateline.org

Publics of Asian Powers Hold Negative Views of One Another
China's Neighbors Worry About its Growing Military Strength
21 Sep 06Traditional rivals in Asia continue to look at each other with deep suspicion and concern, especially China and Japan. The Japanese worry about China's increasing military power, while the Chinese believe Japan has yet to atone for its militaristic past.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Americans See Less Progress on Their Ladder of Life
14 Sep 06As economists and politicians debate whether there is less mobility in the U.S. now than in the past, a new Pew survey finds that many among the public are seeing less progress in their own lives.
Pew Research Center

In Statehouses, 2006 is Year of Surpluses, Social Issues
14 Sep 06Minimum wage hikes and new rights of self-defense for crime victims have been popular with state lawmakers this year. Also, with a budget climate that's been the sunniest in six years, lawmakers have splurged on a host of new projects.
Stateline.org

American Work Life is Worsening, But Most Workers Still Content
30 Aug 06Americans are generally satisfied with their own jobs but believe that wages, benefits, job security and employer loyalty have deteriorated over the past generation for most workers, a new survey finds.
Pew Research Center

Democrats Face Ideological Split Over Wal-Mart
Attacks on Company May Turn On Liberals, Turn Off Moderates
30 Aug 06Leading Democrats have attacked the employment practices of Wal-Mart, but the party's rank-and-file is divided about the company. Liberals are negative, while conservatives and moderates have a positive view.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Does Immigration Hurt U.S. Workers?
24 Aug 06One of the questions at the heart of the immigration policy debate is whether the influx of workers from abroad hurts the employment prospects of U.S.-born workers. But it's a question with no simple answers, according to our analysis of state level employment data.
Pew Hispanic Center

"Remedy" Ads May be Hazardous to Your Health
24 Aug 06Find out why it might make sense to put health warnings on self-improvement ads. And learn what happens to companies whose CEO's are narcissists.
Pew Research Center

Growth in the Foreign-Born Workforce and Employment of the Native Born
10 Aug 06Rapid increases in the foreign-born population at the state level are not associated with negative effects on the employment of native-born workers, according to a study by the Pew Hispanic Center.
Pew Hispanic Center

2006 National Survey of Latinos: The Immigration Debate
13 Jul 06New survey finds Hispanics in the U.S. are feeling discriminated against, politically energized and unified following the immigration policy debate and the pro-immigration marches this spring.
Pew Hispanic Center

Muslims in Europe
Economic - Not Religious - Worries Top Their Concerns
6 Jul 06Muslims living in Europe worry about their future, and many say they have had a bad experience as a result of their religion or ethnicity. But Muslims there do not generally believe most Europeans are hostile toward people of their faith.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Addicted to Gambling
State Governments Now Depend on the Proceeds to Finance their Budgets
23 May 06Although a handful of states are moving this year to ban certain types of electronic gambling machines, experts say tax-averse states are growing increasingly dependent on gambling revenues while ignoring the social cost of problem gamblers.
Stateline.org

Maximum Support for Raising the Minimum
Most Americans Now Live in States That Have Raised the Wage Floor
19 Apr 06Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, north, east, south or west, the U.S. public says it's time for a big boost for the lowest paid.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

America's Immigration Quandary
No Consensus on Immigration Problem or Proposed Fixes
4 Apr 06Americans worry about unauthorized immigration, but disagree about specific policies to deal with it.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Pinched Pocketbooks
Do Average Americans Spot Something that Most Economists Miss?
28 Mar 06Beyond partisanship -- and behind those healthy economic indicators -- Americans may be seeing something that most economists overlook.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Do Deficits Matter Anymore? Apparently Not to the Public
14 Mar 06The federal debt has escalated in recent years but runaway deficits no longer top the political agenda as in the 1990s, according to a new poll analysis.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Russia's Weakened Democratic Embrace
6 Jan 06As concerns grow over the state of Russia's democracy, recent polling by the Pew Global Attitudes Project finds an erosion of support for democracy among the Russian people.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

The Occupational Status and Mobility of Hispanics
15 Dec 05Hispanics and whites perform different types of work in the labor market. Moreover, the occupational divide between the two largest segments of the labor force appears to be widening. The occupations in which Hispanics are concentrated rank low in wages, educational requirements and other indicators of socioeconomic status.
Pew Hispanic Center

Mapping the Political Landscape 2005
1 Sep 05The Center's report offers a richly textured portrait of the American electorate, including a new analysis of 2004 election returns that reveals the congruence between where people live and how they vote.
Pew Research Center