Republicans and Democrats hold widely different opinions on the current state of the economy overall and their own household’s financial situation, according to a new New York Times|SurveyMonkey poll. A majority of Republicans (56%) say they are doing well financially and the overall economy is doing well too, and an additional 20% say they are doing well financially but they are worried about the overall economy. Among Democrats, just eight percent say they are doing well financially and the overall economy is doing well too, with 41% saying they are doing well financially but they are worried about the overall economy.
Combining answer categories, 82% of Democrats but just 29% of Republicans say they’re worried about the overall economy. Similarly, 76% of Republicans but just 49% of Democrats say they are doing well financially.
These numbers align well with the consumer confidence index results, which consistently show lower confidence among Democrats than Republicans (scores of 42 vs. 80 this month, for example). Overall, the consumer confidence index score ticked down one point this month to 59.
For more detailed results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Jobs and the economy 21%24%17%Immigration 18%19%18%Health care 18%15%20%The environment 11%10%11%Other (please specify) 11%10%11%Terrorism 8%6%10%Education 7%7%8%Foreign policy 6%8%4%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?Survey dates: –Would you say that you and your family are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Better off 35%41%30%Same 43%44%42%Worse off 20%14%26%No answer 1%1%2%Question wording: Would you say that you and your family are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?Survey dates: –Now looking ahead - do you think that a year from now you and your family will be better off financially, worse off financially, or just about the same as now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Better off 42%46%37%Same 43%41%45%Worse off 14%12%15%No answer 1%1%2%Question wording: Now looking ahead - do you think that a year from now you and your family will be better off financially, worse off financially, or just about the same as now?Survey dates: –Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole - do you think that during the next 12 months we'll have good or bad times financially?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Very good 17%19%15%Somewhat good 22%26%18%Mixed 37%33%42%Somewhat bad 16%15%16%Very bad 7%7%7%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole - do you think that during the next 12 months we'll have good or bad times financially?Survey dates: –Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely to take place in the next five years for the country as a whole:
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Continuous good times economically 49%55%44%Periods of widespread unemployment or depression 46%41%50%No answer 5%4%5%Question wording: Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely to take place in the next five years for the country as a whole:Survey dates: –Thinking about the big things people buy for their homes - such as furniture, a stove, a television... Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Good 35%40%31%Mixed 51%46%56%Bad 11%12%11%No answer 2%2%3%Question wording: Thinking about the big things people buy for their homes - such as furniture, a stove, a television... Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?Survey dates: –Which statement best describes your view of the economy right now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 I am doing well financially, and the overall economy seems to be doing well 28%34%23%I am doing well financially, but I am worried about the overall economy 31%34%28%I am struggling financially, and I am worried about the overall economy 27%19%34%I am struggling financially, but the overall economy seems to be doing well 11%11%12%No answer 3%2%4%Question wording: Which statement best describes your view of the economy right now?Survey dates: –Which of the following is the biggest economic concern for you personally right now?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Paying off debts 21%23%20%The cost of food, gas or other necessities 20%19%21%Saving for retirement 19%22%16%Not earning enough money to maintain my lifestyle 17%16%18%The cost of housing 12%12%12%Fear of losing my job/a family member losing his/her job 7%5%8%No answer 4%3%4%Question wording: Which of the following is the biggest economic concern for you personally right now?Survey dates: –Which one of these is the biggest economic problem facing the country?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Gap between rich and everyone else 23%21%25%Cost of healthcare 22%20%23%Taxes and government spending 22%25%19%Stagnant wages and benefits 9%10%9%Inflation 5%6%5%Cost of higher education 5%5%5%Unemployment and lack of jobs 4%5%4%Burdensome regulations on business 3%4%3%Housing market 3%2%4%No answer 2%1%3%Question wording: Which one of these is the biggest economic problem facing the country?Survey dates: –Are you or is anyone in your household a member of a labor union?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 2,994 1,646 1,348 Yes, I am 8%10%5%Yes, I am and someone else in my household is as well 2%3%1%Yes, someone else in my household is 7%7%7%No 82%79%85%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: Are you or is anyone in your household a member of a labor union?Survey dates: –
Question text:
Which one of the following issues matters MOST to you right now?
Would you say that you and your family are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Now looking ahead - do you think that a year from now you and your family will be better off financially, worse off financially, or just about the same as now?
Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole - do you think that during the next 12 months we'll have good or bad times financially?
Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely to take place in the next five years for the country as a whole:
Thinking about the big things people buy for their homes - such as furniture, a stove, a television… Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?
Which statement best describes your view of the economy right now? I am doing well financially, and the overall economy seems to be doing well / I am doing well financially, but I am worried about the overall economy / I am struggling financially, and I am worried about the overall economy / I am struggling financially, but the overall economy seems to be doing well
Which of the following is the biggest economic concern for you personally right now? Paying off debts / The cost of food, gas or other necessities / Saving for retirement / Not earning enough money to maintain my lifestyle / The cost of housing / Fear of losing my job/a family member losing his/her job
Which one of these is the biggest economic problem facing the country? Gap between rich and everyone else / Cost of healthcare / Taxes and government spending / Stagnant wages and benefits / Inflation / Cost of higher education / Unemployment and lack of jobs / Burdensome regulations on business / Housing market
Are you or is anyone in your household a member of a labor union?
