PRINCETON, NJ -- ý Daily polling conducted Thursday through Saturday -- well after the announcement of the Federal Reserve Board's reduction of interest rates and as reports of a new economic stimulus package dominated the news -- still finds no significant change in the American public's views of the U.S. economy. The latest results, based on interviewing conducted Jan. 24-26, show 22% of Americans rating current economic conditions as "excellent" or "good," 44% calling them "only fair," and 33% "poor."
Separately, 14% of national adults say the national economy is getting better, while 81% believe it is worsening.
The trend in Americans' economic mood has been negative on both ý Daily indicators since Jan. 2. The percentage saying current economic conditions are "poor" rose from 24% in Jan. 2-4 polling to 31% in polling conducted Jan. 19-22, spanning a period of sharp decline in the U.S. stock market. That rating has remained at about the same highly negative level in the last four days.
A similar pattern is seen in perceptions of the economy's direction. Between Jan. 2-4 polling and Jan. 17-19 polling, the percentage of Americans saying the economy is getting worse rose from 73% to 81%. It has held at the 81% to 82% level over the past week, with no further escalation of negativity, but also with no signs of a more positive outlook. -- Frank Newport
Methodology: The results reported here are based on 1,470 interviews conducted Jan. 24-26, 2008. For results based on this sample, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.