21% of Americans Expect Economy to Improve, Harris Poll Shows

Americans are divided on their outlook for the economy, a Harris poll of 2,464 adults earlier this month found. Twenty-one percent expect the economy will improve, 45% think it will stay the same, and 34% fear it will get worse.

Asked about the state of the economy in their region, 65% say it is bad, 22% say it is neutral and a mere 12% rate it as good.

Sixty-seven percent rate the current job market in their region as bad, 22% say it is neither good nor bad, and 11% believe it is good.

Asked about the possibility of a double-dip recession, the survey showed a large majority, 69%, say the country hasn’t even come out of the first recession. Ten percent think there is a danger the economy will slip back into a recession, and only 11% think the U.S. has come out of the recession and the economy is growing.

And a majority of Americans blame the president for the economic state of the nation, with 79% giving President Obama negative ratings, and only 21% giving him positive ratings.

“Contrary to what economists have been saying, Americans do not even think we have come out of the recession,” Harris said. Until job creation begins to pick up, Americans’ pessimism is likely to continue.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Fund performance Money Management Executive
MORE FROM FINANCIAL PLANNING