The U.S. Senate on Thursday, at the urging of President Bush and President-elect Obama, released the second half of the $700 billion financial sector rescue plan, approved last October and known officially as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
Will he or won’t he – go to jail for life, that is?
Just 37% of Americans are even somewhat confident that their political leaders know what they’re doing as they try to address the nation’s economic problems.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of American adults are opposed to a government economic recovery plan that does not cut taxes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Despite the fact that President-elect Barack Obama promised billions of dollars in tax breaks as part of his economic plan, just 21% believe their taxes will go down during his presidency.
Americans are solidly optimistic about the economy’s recovery, but most expect it to take up to five years to come back.
A majority of voters (54%) believe a major government economic recovery plan is necessary to restore the U.S. economy to good health.
The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor fell for the fourth consecutive month in December, declining more than three points to a new low of 76.6 (based out of 100). Both components of the monthly spending index - consumer confidence in the U.S. economy and consumer spending intent - reached new lows during the month, as concerns about the economy may be weighing on post-holiday spending plans.
A majority of Americans say it’s still possible for anyone who wants to work to find a job and work themselves out of poverty.
The Rasmussen Employment Index, a monthly measure of U.S. worker confidence in the employment market, fell to a record low for the third month in a row.
Full monthly results for the Rasmussen Consumer Index in December shows that the economic confidence of American consumers has fallen to another all-time low at 59.6.
As the incoming Obama administration and the Democratic congressional leadership scramble for ways to right the U.S. economy, 70% of U.S. voters say a free market is better than one managed by the government.
Just over half of U.S. adults (51%) fear that Congress will make it harder for some people to get approved for new credit cards if it forces credit card companies to reduce the interest they charge.
Twenty-one percent (21%) of American adults say they are carrying more credit card debt than a year ago, and 11% say their credit limit on one or more cards has been reduced in the past 12 months.
Nearly half of U.S. voters (49%) oppose President Bush’s decision to extend $17.4 billion in emergency taxpayer-backed loans to the failing U.S. auto industry, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of U.S. voters say it is Very Likely that the Big Three automakers will be back for more government money next year even if Congress revives the $14-billion taxpayer-backed loan package defeated last night in the Senate.
Would you buy a car made by an auto manufacturer that was in bankruptcy?
With the Treasury Department considering more direct involvement in the U.S. mortgage market, 42% of American adults say it is more important to make it easier for people to buy their first homes than to keep the value of existing homes as high as possible.
The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor slipped to 79.7 in November, falling below 80 for the first time in its history, as consumer economic sentiment fell to a record low and concern over personal finances reached record highs. Heading into the holiday season, consumers temporarily reversed course on spending from previous months, with an increasing number planning on spending more in December.
Congress and the White House are fast reaching a deal on a bailout plan for the Big Three that many suggest is just a step short of nationalizing the U.S. auto industry since it gives the federal government a say in how the automakers spend their money and what kind of cars they build.
