2008-07-30-皮尤-Inflation_Staggers_Public,_Economy_Still_Seen_as_Fixable_46页_261kb

Summary

Economic Concerns

• Inflation and Rising Costs: Widespread anxiety about inflation nearly doubled since February 2008, with 45% naming rising prices as the top national economic problem. Gasoline and food costs were major concerns, with 68% and 38% finding them difficult to afford, respectively.
• Economic Outlook:
  • 72% viewed the national economy negatively (54% recession, 18% depression).
  • Personal financial optimism declined, with only 51% expecting their finances to improve or stay the same over the next year.
  • Lower-income groups (Under $30,000) and minorities were disproportionately affected.
• Key Economic Problems: Public agrees that international competition for resources (66%) and bad bank loans (59%) contributed most to economic difficulties.
• Global Economy Impact: 80% felt the global economy had a significant influence, mostly negative.

Political View: Obama Maintains Lead

• In the general election matchup, Obama led McCain 47–42% among registered voters, a slight narrower margin than in June 2008.
• Party Support: 86% of Republicans backed McCain, while 81% of Democrats supported Obama. Independent voters split evenly.
• Demographic Breakdown: Obama gained support among younger voters (56–36), African Americans (86–5), and women (50–39).
• Horserace Impact: Despite a decrease in the "bounce" attributed to Obama's recent overseas tour, Obama had a 5-point advantage in the horserace.

Key Findings

• Economic Policy: Obama was favored for improving economic conditions (47–32), while McCain was seen as better at defending against terrorism.
• Global Capabilities: 68% believed the government could fix the economy, similar to a view from 1980.
• Partisan Disparities: Democrats were more critical of the economy than Republicans, with 83–71% viewing conditions negatively.

The report paints a bleak economic landscape with widespread inflation concerns and subdued financial optimism, while Obama held a slight but significant lead in the presidential race.