Everybody agrees that the economy will play a big part in the 2016 presidential race, but Americans' views on economic health are complicated, a new poll from The Associated Press and NORC finds. Overall, just 42 percent of respondents said the U.S. economy is in good shape, but 66 percent say their own households are doing well financially, the poll found. Politics play some part in perceptions: Thirty-four percent of Republicans said the economy is good, versus 54 percent of Democrats. And people with a college degree — who have generally fared better after the Great Recession — are more upbeat about the economy than those without a college diploma.
AP suggests the results are a sign that Americans are still haunted by the 2007-08 financial meltdown, noting that only a third of respondents said they would be confident about getting another job if they were laid off from the one they have. On the other hand, AP reports, the 42 percent calling the economy good now is a big improvement from the 26 percent who said so in an October 2013 poll. The new poll was conducted April 14-18 with 1,008 adults, and has a sampling error of ±3.7 percentage points. You can peruse the results at AP-NORC.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
When is an offensive social media post a crime?The Explainer UK legal system walks a 'difficult tightrope' between defending free speech and prosecuting hate speech
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
-
Women are getting their own baseball league againIn the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strikeSpeed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
-
US economy still strong in final preelection reportSpeed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strikeSpeed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
-
Ports reopen after dockworkers halt strikeSpeed Read The 36 ports that closed this week, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homesSpeed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bidSpeed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detenteSpeed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
