Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Personal Finances

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    Surge in Support for Social Safety Net

    Support for government programs to help disadvantaged Americans, as well as sympathy for the plight of the poor, have surged since 1994 and returned to levels last seen in 1990 prior to welfare reform, with gains occurring among virtually every major social, political and demographic group. Read full analysis at Pewresearch.org

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    What Americans Pay For – and How

    Nearly three-in-ten adults say the most common way they take care of their regular monthly bills is by an online or electronic payment.

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    The Complicated Politics of Free Trade

    Crafting 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. Read the full analysis at pewresearch.org

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    Free Trade Agreements Get a Mixed Review

    Summary of Findings The 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. About as many people […]

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    As Home Prices Cool Down, Homeowners Temper Their Optimism

    Despite 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.