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.
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?
