The economy's strong start to 2020 continues in this month's New York Times|SurveyMonkey poll, with fears of a recession the lowest they’ve been in the past three years, and household finance expectations stable to optimistic.
This month’s survey was bolstered by responses among Republicans, who typically have more positive scores on all economic measures. The survey's field period coincided with several key political events in early February: the Iowa Democratic Caucuses, the State of the Union, and the impeachment vote in the Senate.
Month-to-month, Republicans’ most optimistic spike came in their five-year expectations regarding the economy as a whole. This month, fully 87% of Republicans and GOP-leaners expect “continuous good times economically,” up from an already-strong 80% in January. That percentage fell among independents (from 52% to 42%) and nudged up just slightly among Democrats (from 29% to 31%).
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?
How much credit do you think President Trump deserves for the current state of the economy?
In general, how likely are you to follow news coverage or watch video clips of President Trump’s speeches?
Do you follow political news coverage by any of the following media organizations on a daily or almost daily basis? (Select all that apply.)
Do you follow political news coverage on any of the following social media sites on a daily or almost daily basis? (Select all that apply.)
Which of the following words or phrases would you use to describe the state of the economy today? (Please select all that apply.)
(Among Democrats and Democratic leaners) Regardless of whom you may support, which of the 2020 Democratic presidential election candidates do you trust most to handle the economy?
(Among Democrats and Democratic leaners) Regardless of whom you may support, which of the 2020 Democratic presidential election candidates do you trust most to handle healthcare?
(Among Democrats and Democratic leaners) Regardless of whom you may support, which of the 2020 Democratic presidential election candidates do you trust most to handle international affairs?
Joe Biden / Bernie Sanders / Elizabeth Warren / Pete Buttigieg / Michael Bloomberg / Andrew Yang / Julian Castro / Cory Booker / Amy Klobuchar / Tom Steyer / Tulsi Gabbard / Marianne Williamson / Kamala Harris / Steve Bullock / John Delaney / Michael Bennet / Deval Patrick
*voters
