Americans are upbeat about their financial health, but down on the economy, poll finds

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.

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