Lifestyle

Confidence in Race Relations Tumbles

Americans still believe most of their fellow countrymen aren’t racist but think race relations in this country have taken a decided turn for the worse.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 17% of American Adults now rate race relations in America today as good or excellent, down by half from 34% a year ago. Twenty-nine percent (29%) describe race relations as poor, compared to 19% who felt that way in January 2014. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Voters Favor Free Community College If It’s Cost-Free to Them

Voters tend to like President Obama’s idea of free community college for millions of students - as long as it doesn’t cost them anything.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a new government program that would make community college tuition-free. Thirty-nine percent (39%) are opposed. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 9-10, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Is Congress A Help or Hindrance for the Postal Service?

Outgoing Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe criticized Congress this week for its inaction on needed reforms for the financially struggling U.S. Postal Service, but Americans aren’t entirely convinced the agency should be able to make budget changes without Congress.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% favor allowing the Postal Service to make budget decisions without congressional approval. Thirty-two percent (32%) oppose letting the agency act without congressional oversight. Twenty-six percent (26%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Don't Call Us, We'll Text You

Telephone calls are fading dramatically as a regular means of communication.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 45% of American Adults say they still primarily communicate with friends and family through phone calls. But that's a 31-point drop from 76% just under five years ago. Half as many (22%) chiefly communicate via text messaging, up from five percent (5%) in the earlier survey.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.)

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Are Far Less Fearful of Ebola

Out of sight, out of mind. With only a handful of reported cases in this country, Americans are less concerned about the threat of Ebola and more confident the U.S. public health system can handle the killer virus.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of American Adults still regard Ebola as a serious public health problem for this country, but that’s down 20 points from a high of 69% in early October. Just as many (49%) now say it’s not a serious health problem. These findings include 14% who consider it Very Serious and 14% who say it’s Not At All Serious.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on January 2-3, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Still Worry About Population Growing Too Fast

The U.S. birthrate declined for the sixth straight year in 2014, but Americans are still more worried about the population growing too fast rather than too slow.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults believe a population growing too fast is a bigger problem for the United States than one that is growing too slowly. Just 22% disagree and think too-slow population growth is a bigger problem for the country. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on January 2-3, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Share a Brighter View of the Year Ahead

Americans ended 2014 on a much more positive note than they did the previous year and are more optimistic about the year ahead.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults give 2014 positive marks, up from 30% who felt that way about 2013 a year ago. This includes four percent (4%) who say 2014 was one of the best years ever, nine percent (9%) who consider it an excellent year and 31% who view it as a good one. Just 17% view last year as a poor one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 30, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans More Optimistic They’ll Keep New Year's Resolutions

Welcome to 2015. A sizable number of Americans plan on making some life changes this year and are more hopeful than they were a year ago that they’ll stick to them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of American Adults will make New Year’s resolutions this year, while 50% will not. Another 12% are not sure. These findings are similar to those measured a year ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 30, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

America Plans to Welcome 2015 With a Kiss and a Drink

Tonight at midnight, America welcomes 2015, but most Americans will be staying home again on New Year's Eve.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of American Adults are more likely to stay at home, while 22% are more likely to go out to celebrate tonight. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day is still regarded by Americans as one of the nation’s most important holidays, though slightly more now celebrate it as a secular holiday compared to past years.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of American Adults consider Christmas to be one of the nation’s most important holidays, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just five percent (5%) say Christmas is the least important holiday, while 28% say it is somewhere in between the two. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 22-23, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

More Americans Will Host Family and Friends This Holiday Season

A quarter of Americans will be traveling this holiday season and most will be visiting family and friends, but more adults will be hosting guests than last year.

Twenty-three percent (23%) of American Adults plan on traveling away from home this holiday season, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-four percent (74%) don’t plan on traveling. (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 22-23, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Americans Unconcerned About Toy Safety

Even as children are getting ready to unwrap their Christmas presents, toy safety is not concern for most American Adults.

Just 37% of all Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of most toys being sold this holiday season, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That is up just slightly from 33% last year and includes 14% who are Very Concerned. However, toy safety concerns are still down significantly from a high of 53% in 2012. 

Most Americans, though (60%), are not concerned about toy safety this holiday season, unchanged from a year ago. This includes 25% who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

At The Last Minute, 22% Still Haven’t Started Their Holiday Shopping

With Christmas just three days away, gift shopping time is coming down to the wire, but one-in-five Americans still haven’t started yet.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults have started their holiday gift shopping, up from 68% a week ago and 54% at the beginning of the month. Twenty-two percent (22%) still have not started their holiday shopping. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Disagree with Sony; 26% More Likely to See “The Interview” Now

Most Americans oppose Sony’s decision not to release the film, “The Interview,” after computer hacking and terror threats from North Korea and expect similar cyberattacks to increase against other U.S. companies.

Thirty percent (30%) of American Adults agree with Sony’s decision not to release the comedy about an attempted assassination of the leader of North Korea. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% disagree with the company’s decision to cancel the Christmas Day release of the film. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 18-19, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Expect Fewer Christmas Cards This Year

Christmas remains an overwhelmingly American holiday, but not when it comes to sending Christmas cards.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 89% of American Adults celebrate Christmas in their family, showing little change from past findings. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Are Finding More Joy in the Holidays

More Americans are feeling the spirit this holiday season.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of American Adults are having difficulty getting into the holiday season, but that's down from 41% a year ago and from 43% in December 2009 at the end of the first full year after the Wall Street meltdown. Fifty-seven percent (57%) are not having any trouble getting into the season, up from a low of 49% in 2010 and the highest level of enthusiasm in several years of surveying at this time of year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Still Have Lots of Holiday Shopping Left

The clock is ticking. With less than 10 days left until Christmas, Americans are on pace with last season’s holiday shopping.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults have now started their holiday shopping, up from 54% two weeks ago and 34% a month ago. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% have yet to start their holiday gift shopping at this point. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Charity is Up This Christmas

Americans are in the charitable spirit once again this Christmas, and even more plan to make a donation than last year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of Americans Adults are at least somewhat likely to make a charitable donation of some kind this year, up from 76% a year ago. Just 13% are not likely to make a donation. This includes 65% who are Very Likely to donate this year and five percent (5%) who are Not At All Likely to do so. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Say Violent Video Games Lead to a More Violent Society

Australian K-Mart and Target stores recently banned the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V from its shelves, responding to a petition over the game’s depiction of violence against women. Back at home, nearly half of Americans believe violent video games lead to more violence in society and parents should be held responsible to limit the exposure their children have to these games.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults think violent video games lead to more violence in our society. However, this is down six points from a July 2012 survey taken just weeks after the Colorado movie theater shooting spree and the lowest finding since we first asked the question in 2010. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, unchanged from two years ago. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure, up seven points from 2012. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Not So Fast, Satan; Other Religious Displays OK on Public Land

Americans continue to strongly support the celebration of Christmas in the public schools and religious displays on public land, but they draw the line at displays by Satanists and atheists.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults believe Christmas should be celebrated in public schools. Just 15% disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.