Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Barack Obama’s approval ratings have improved somewhat in the last few months. Currently, more Americans say they approve of the way he is handling his job as president than say they disapprove (49% vs. 42%). Opinion was more closely divided throughout the fall and earlier this winter (in November 44% approved while an identical percentage […]
The public continues to take a skeptical view of reporting from the major news outlets. No more than a third says they can believe all or most of the reporting by 14 major news organizations. There has been little change in public views of media credibility since 2008. Since the late 1990’s, however, there has […]
Overall, the public is divided over whether it is more important for the federal government to reduce the budget deficit or spend to help the economy recover. About half (49%) say that reducing the budget deficit should be the federal government’s higher priority, while nearly as many (46%) say the priority should be spending to […]
Just a third of Americans know that the bank bailout was enacted by the Bush administration; nearly half incorrectly say it was passed under President Obama.
As Congress begins with a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives, about a third (34%) of Americans approve of GOP congressional leaders’ policies and plans for the future; 43% disapprove. Public approval of Republican plans has declined by seven points since the party won back the House in November’s election; two months ago […]
Less Optimism about America’s Long-Term Prospects
The past year has seen a series of momentous political events – rising unemployment, passage of controversial health care legislation, a sweeping defeat for Democrats in the midterm elections and a historically active lame-duck session of Congress. But the public’s impression of Barack Obama has remained remarkably steady. At the start of 2010, 49% of […]
Eight-in-ten Americans (81%) say their state is currently facing budget problems, and 36% say the problems in their state are very serious. At the other end of the spectrum, 20% say their state either has no budget problems (12%) or that the problems are not too serious (8%). There has been virtually no change in […]