US Public More Positive About The Economy, Views Of Job News Improve

From the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press— Americans are hearing less negative news about the nation’s economy than they were just a month ago. Perceptions of news about other economic sectors – notably, the job situation – have improved as well.

Most Americans continue to hear a mix of good and bad news about the economy (62%). But the share hearing mostly bad news has dipped from 35% in September to 28% this month. The percentage hearing mostly good news is essentially unchanged at 8%.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, was conducted 4-7 October 2012. It surveyed 1,006 adults.

The survey found that the percentage hearing mostly bad news about the job situation has declined 10 points since September – from 52% to 42% – and 13 points since August.

Most of the interviewing was conducted after the jobs report on 5 October 2012, which showed unemployment had fallen below 8% for the first time since early 2009.

The survey also finds fewer Americans are hearing mostly bad news about financial markets, real estate values and food and

consumer prices.

In September, far more Americans said news about financial markets was mostly bad than mostly good, 37% vs. 14%. Forty one percent said the news about financial markets was mixed.

Currently, 26% say news about financial markets is mostly bad. Meanwhile, 16% say it is mostly good.

The percentage saying the news is a mix of good and bad has increased to 50%.

Similarly, the balance of opinion about real estate news has improved substantially since September.

Currently 32% say news about real estate values is mostly bad. Twenty three percent say it is mostly good and 38% say it is mixed.

Last month, negative perceptions of news about real estate values surpassed positive perceptions by about two-to-one, 43% to 20%.

However, perceptions of news about gas prices remain overwhelmingly negative and are virtually unchanged since September. In the survey, 72% say they are hearing mostly bad news about gas prices.

And while views of news about food and consumer prices have improved since September, 51% say the news about this sector is mostly bad.

Views of Job News: 2009-2012

Views of news about the job situation now approach their most positive levels in more than three years of Pew Research Center surveys.

Currently, 17% say news about the job situation is mostly good. Forty two percent say it is mostly bad, while 40% see the mixed news.

In March 2012, there were similar perceptions of jobs news— 17% mostly good, 38% mostly bad, 42% mixed.

Views of news about the job situation are markedly better today than at comparable points since 2009.

In November 2009, 68% said news about jobs was mostly bad. Views were about as negative in September 2010 (65%) and November 2011 (64%).

Republicans Less Negative On Jobs & The Economy

A month ago, partisan differences in views of economic news reached record levels.

Those differences, while still substantial, have narrowed since September as Republican views of economic news have improved both generally and across most specific sectors.

Currently, about half, 49%, of Republicans say economic news is mostly bad. That is down from 60% a month ago.

Just 13% of Democrats say economic news is mostly bad. That is virtually unchanged since September.

Independents’ views also are little changed— 36% mostly bad in September, 29% currently.

Perceptions of job news have become less negative across partisan lines since last month.

Nonetheless, far more Republicans (64%) than independents (43%) and Democrats (26%) say news about the job situation is mostly bad.

Notably, as many Democrats now say news about the job situation is mostly good (26%) as mostly bad (26%). Forty seven percent say it is a mix of good and bad. A month ago, 34% said job news was mostly bad. Eighteen percent said it was mostly good and 45% said it was mixed.