Americans' Personal Financial Assessments Up Sharply | Gallup Annual Polling

[Fred Sanders]

January 20, 2015

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Americans are much more likely to report that they are financially better off now (47%) compared with a year ago than to say they are worse off (28%). Last January, more said they were worse off than better off, consistent with most measurements since the Great Recession began. The more positive results this year are closer to what Gallup measured during strong economic times over the past 40 years -- such as in the late 1980s and late 1990s -- than in sluggish economic times.


Americans' rosier financial assessments come as falling gas prices have benefited nearly all Americans and rising stock values in the past year have benefited most. The job market by all accounts is better than it was a year ago.

The latest results mark a DRAMATIC TURNAROUND from the recent recession and post-recession years. In May 2009, 54% of Americans said their financial situation was worse and 23% better, the gloomiest assessment in Gallup's 40-year trend. Last year at this time, 35% of Americans said their financial situation was getting better and 42% said it was getting worse.


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http://www.gallup.com/poll/181163/americans-personal-financial-assessments-sharply.aspx?utm_source=ECONOMY&utm_medium=topic&utm_campaign=tiles

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[Stuart G]

1. Good Sign of economic growth..look at chart.

Still the story is a bit confusing in its language