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   Economic Outlook, Personal Finances, Consumer Behavior

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Sept. 26-30, 2012. N=approx. 500 registered voters nationwide.

"Do you think the U.S. economy is recovering or is not recovering?"

9/26-30/12

39

4

-

9/12-16/12

45

2

2

8/16-20/12

46

3

1

6/20-24/12 Adults

44

5

-

CNN/ORC Poll. Sept. 7-9, 2012. N=709 likely voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.
LV = likely voters. Among adults, expect where noted.

"And now I'd like you to compare your financial situation to what it was four years ago, during the last presidential election. Would you say that you are financially better off now than you were four years ago, or are you financially worse off?"

9/7-9/12 LV

42

19

1

5/29-31/12

43

11

1

CBS News Poll. Aug. 22-26, 2012. N=1,218 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Over the next few months, do you think the U.S. economy is probably headed into another recession, or do you think the U.S. economy is probably not headed into another recession?"

8/22-26/12

42

5

11

10/19-24/11

40

5

11

"Is your family financially better off today than it was four years ago, worse off financially, or is it about the same as it was four years ago?"

8/22-26/12

39

40

1

11/08

40

38

1

CNN/ORC Poll. Aug. 7-8, 2012. N=1,010 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of economic conditions today? The economy is starting to recover from the problems it faced in the past year or so. An economic recovery has not started but conditions have stabilized and are not getting any worse. The economy is still in a downturn and conditions are continuing to worsen."

8/7-8/12

41

39

4/13-15/12

42

33

8/5-7/11

31

60

4/9-10/11

38

36

10/5-7/10

44

38

4/9-11/10

46

34

1/22-24/10

49

39

12/2-3/09

46

39

10/16-18/09

50

33

6/26-28/09

48

40

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). June 24-26, 2012. N=912 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Do you think the nation's economy is getting better or worse?"

6/24-26/12

39

18

2

8/7-9/11

71

10

3

7/17-19/11

58

13

4

CNN/ORC Poll. May 29-31, 2012. N=1,009 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Next we are interested in how people's financial situation may have changed. Would you say that you are financially better off now than you were a year ago, or are you financially worse off?"

5/29-31/12

43

20

"And now I'd like you to compare your financial situation to what it was four years ago, during the last presidential election when George W. Bush was still president. Would you say that you are financially better off now than you were four years ago, or are you financially worse off?" N=503 (Version B), margin of error ± 4.5

5/29-31/12

41

12

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. May 17-20, 2012. N=1,004 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Would you say you, yourself, are better off financially than you were when Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?"

5/17-20/12

30

53

1

1/12-15/12

30

54

1

10/31 - 11/3/11

34

52

1

8/29 - 9/1/11

35

50

-

7/15-18/09

27

64

-

"Thinking about your personal finances in the next few years, would you describe yourself as more hopeful, or as more anxious?" Options rotated

5/17-20/12

38

1

2

1

"Thinking about the national economy in the next few years, would you describe yourself as more hopeful, or as more anxious?" Options rotated

5/17-20/12

42

1

1

1

Quinnipiac University Poll. April 11-17, 2012. N=2,577 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 1.9.

"Are you better off or worse off financially today than you were four years ago?"

ALL

41

21

3

Republicans

55

19

2

Democrats

23

24

3

Independents

46

20

2

"During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal financial situation will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?"

ALL

13

51

4

Republicans

17

57

3

Democrats

7

50

4

Independents

14

49

4

"Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now?"

4/11-17/12

27

5

2/14-20/12

30

4

9/27 - 10/3/11

20

3

8/16-27/11

20

4

7/5-11/11

25

4

5/31 - 6/6/11

19

3

1/4-11/11

24

3

7/13-19/10

18

3

5/19-24/10

21

5

5/8-12/08

24

5

"Do you think the economy is beginning to recover or not?"

4/11-17/12

43

4

2/14-20/12

43

3

8/16-27/11

68

4

7/5-11/11

52

3

5/31 - 6/6/11

52

3

1/4-11/11

43

3

7/13-19/10

52

5

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. April 5-8, 2012. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"Do you think the country's economic recession is over, or do you think the economy is still in a recession?" Options rotated

4/5-8/12

76

4

"Regardless of whether or not the recession is over, would you say the economy in your area is improving, or not improving?"

4/5-8/12

49

3

CNN/ORC Poll. March 24-25, 2012. N=1,014 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Thinking specifically about the economy, which of the following is the most important economic issue facing the country today? Unemployment. The federal budget deficit. The price of gasoline.* Taxes. Mortgages and housing costs. The stock market." Options rotated.
*Prior to 8/11: "Rising gasoline prices."

Unemployment

38

38

Federal deficit

28

28

Price of gas

21

19

Taxes

4

6

Housing costs

6

5

Stock market

2

1

Other (vol.)

1

2

Unsure

1

-

McClatchy-Marist Poll. March 20-22, 2012. N=1,080 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"When thinking about the U.S. economy, which statement comes closer to your view? The worst is yet to come. The worst is behind us."

3/20-22/12

49

6

11/8-10/11

41

5

9/13-14/11

35

3

8/2-4/11

27

6

6/15-23/11

42

6

4/10-14/11

39

4

1/6-10/11

54

7

"Do you think that the U.S. economy is currently in a recession or not?"

3/20-22/12

30

4

11/8-10/11

25

3

9/13-14/11

22

3

6/15-23/11

20

5

4/10-14/11

25

4

1/6-10/11

24

5

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). March 10-12, 2012. N=912 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Do you see signs the nation's economy has started turning around, or not?"

3/10-12/12

40

2

CBS News/New York Times Poll. March 7-11, 2012. N=1,009 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Compared to four years ago, is your family's financial situation better today, worse today, or about the same?"

3/7-11/12

37

43

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. March 7-10, 2012. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"Regardless of whether or not the recession is over, in terms of your own personal experience, do you feel the economy has or has not begun to recover?"

3/7-10/12

49

2

1/12-15/12

54

1

10/31 - 11/3/11

63

1

6/2-5/11

57

1

3/10-13/11

53

1

12/9-12/10

57

2

2/4-8/10

53

1

12/10-13/09

49

1

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Feb. 29-March 3, 2012. N=approx. 400 adults nationwide.

"Thinking about the country's economic recession, do you think the worst is behind us or the worst is ahead of us?"

2/29 - 3/3/12

36

2

5

11/2-5/11

44

2

5

7/14-17/11

45

3

6

6/9-13/11

41

3

4

11/11-15/10

35

2

3

8/26-30/10

45

4

6

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Feb. 16-19, 2012. N=1,014 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"Right now, do you think the U.S. economy is growing, slowing down, in a recession, or in an economic depression?"

2/16-19/12

13

27

19

2

4/20-23/11

16

26

29

1

9/26-27/08

27

36

33

1

1/30 - 2/2/08

46

33

12

2

"A year from now, do you think the U.S. economy will be growing, slowing down, in a recession, or in an economic depression?"

2/16-19/12

11

13

12

4

9/26-27/08

13

23

13

9

1/30 - 2/2/08

19

21

10

6

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). Jan. 12-14, 2012. N=906 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Do you see any signs the nation's economy has started to turn the corner and the worst is over, or not?"

1/12-14/12

56

4

11/13-15/11

68

3

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2011. N=1,004 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Regardless of whether or not the recession is over, in terms of your own personal experience, do you feel the economy has or has not begun to recover?"

10/31 - 11/3/11

63

1

6/2-5/11

57

1

3/10-13/11

53

1

12/9-12/10

57

2

2/4-8/10

53

1

12/10-13/09

49

1

"Would you say you, yourself, are better off financially than you were when Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?"

10/31 - 11/3/11

34

52

1

8/29 - 9/1/11

35

50

-

7/15-18/09

27

64

-

"How concerned are you about being able to maintain your current standard of living? Are you very worried, somewhat worried, not so worried or not worried at all?"

10/31 - 11/3/11

36

18

15

12/10-13/09

39

19

17

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Sept. 15-18, 2011. N=1,004 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"Do you think the economy is now in a recession, or not?"

9/15-18/11

18

2

8/27-30/10

16

2

9/11-13/09

15

1

3/14-16/08

22

1

10/12-14/07

58

7

"Do you think the U.S. economy is fully recovered, better than it was a year ago but not fully recovered, about the same as a year ago, or worse than it was a year ago?"

9/15-18/11

22

35

42

"Thinking about one year from now, do you think the U.S. economy will be fully recovered, better than it is now but not fully recovered, about the same as now, or worse than it is now?"

9/15-18/11

37

39

22

2

8/27-30/10

44

33

21

2

Pew Research Center/Washington Post. Sept. 1-4, 2011. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

"Which of the following national economic issues worries you most? The job situation. Rising prices. The federal budget deficit. Problems in the financial and housing markets." Options rotated

9/1-4/11

22

17

11

8

7/20-24/11

29

15

11

6

5/25-30/11

28

20

10

4

3/8-14/11

24

28

10

4

2/2-7/11

19

23

10

5

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2011. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

"Thinking about the next 12 months, would you say you feel optimistic or pessimistic about the chances that the jobs situation in this country will improve?" Options rotated

8/29 - 9/1/11

50

4

Ipsos/Reuters Poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. Aug. 4-8, 2011. N=1,055 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3. 6/10 & earlier: Ipsos/McClatchy Poll.

"Has the U.S. economy turned the corner on the current crisis, is the worst yet to come, or have things stabilized but not yet begun to improve?"

8/4-8/11

47

43

5

1/7-10/11

27

57

5

6/10-13/10

34

49

5

2/26-28/10

31

55

3

1/28-31/10

28

57

5

1/7-11/10

30

56

3

12/3-6/09

35

54

2

10/29 - 11/1/09

32

59

2

10/1-5/09

31

55

3

8/27-31/09

35

49

4

7/30 - 8/3/09

32

56

3

7/9-13/09

39

49

5

6/4-8/09

37

48

6

4/30 - 5/3/09

38

48

4

4/2-6/09

36

52

4

3/5-9/09

57

35

4

2/6-9/09

54

35

4

CNN/ORC Poll. Aug. 5-7, 2011. N=1,008 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Did the fall of the stock market in recent weeks shake your confidence in the American economy, or didn't it change your opinion?"

8/5-7/11

60

1

"Did the fall of the stock market affect your family's financial position in a major way, a minor way, or not at all?"

8/5-7/11

39

45

CBS News/New York Times Poll. June 24-28, 2011. N=979 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Which comes closer to your view? The current economic downturn is temporary and eventually the economy will fully recover. OR, The current economic downturn is part of a long-term permanent decline and the economy will never fully recover."

6/24-28/11

39

4

10/21-26/10

28

4

CBS News Poll. Feb. 11-14, 2011. N=1,031 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"Some people say the recession will be over soon and that an economic recovery has begun. Do you think that's true, or not?"

2/11-14/11

57

6

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Sept. 29-30, 2010. N=1,025 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.8.

"As a result of what's happening in the economy, please tell me whether or not you are worried about each of the following. First, are you worried about . . . ?"

"Having enough savings for retirement"

9/29-30/10

30

3

1

8/23-25/94

27

2

-

"Maintaining your current standard of living"

9/29-30/10

36

-

1

8/23-25/94

46

-

-

"Being able to pay medical or health care costs"

9/29-30/10

36

1

1

8/23-25/94

36

1

-

"A major wage earner in your household losing a job"

9/29-30/10

44

6

1

8/23-25/94

44

8

0

"Affording mortgage payments or rent"

9/29-30/10

48

4

1

8/23-25/94

54

5

-

"Financing your children's education"

9/29-30/10

38

16

1

8/23-25/94

32

19

-

"Considering everything, how worried are you about the economic future facing you and your family? Are you very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not at all worried?"

9/29-30/10

45

16

8