Worse. Jobs, even low paying jobs, are hard to find. Health insurance costs are significantly higher thanks to Obamacare. Our politicians earn more than the average American and they collect pensions after just a short term in office, which greatly contributes to America's financial problems.

I don't get how some of the questions asked affect the point of the poll and find the questions usless without qualification.
I am not saving more money for the future than I used to but not becasuse I am confident in the economy but becasue the economy is so bad and with this last tax increase can no longer afford to. The tax increase cost my wife and I about $500 per month of our net earnings. This is what we used to save.
Next. Yes we are going to make a large purchase this year. Again not because we feel good about things or "want" to. We now have another driver in the family and another car is required for everyone to get to work and school. Needs vs wants. We need to.
Next. Yes we both worry about one or both of us being laid off this year. Both of our companies but especially mine have suffered greatly the last 4 or 5 years. We can't stop living paralyzed by fear though. Economy or not we need to move forward and live our lives working towards attaining needs and sacrificing wants but still moving forward.
Lastly as previously stated. Don't let answers to the first three questions that could be misconstrued or skewed to lead anyone to believe we are either confident or happy with the direction of the economy. We are in complete agreement that the economy is being mishandled and is heading the wrong direction. We just refuse to stop living because of it.

Well said Ray!

The economy never gets bad if you work for the govt-here in my neighborhood 3 area cops put in 60k apiece in inground pools at their McMansions this past summer. Writing speeding tickets and sitting around the old firehouse pays pretty good these days- don't forget their great insurance and big pensions.

My personal economy is much better since moving away from Joliet. I make the same crappy wages but the cost of living in Florida is far less. People need to learn to live within their means and if they can not cut it in a certain area they need to make a tough decision and move or shut up and re evaluate their budget. The government did not make people buy new cars and over priced houses. My health insurance went down and that TEMPORARY decrease in taxes caused me to adjust my tax withholding so that I received a $10 month raise. My parents work hard every day and so do I. They live in the same home that we grew up in. They do not own any new cars nor do they go on vacations. This is the reality we have faced since the 70's. We get by just fine and if people would learn to live within their means and save maybe this country would not be in the situation it is in now. Everyone screaming and complaining about the economy while they buy designer this and name brand that.

IJ-you should volunteer to give 100% of whay you make to the govt and then I won't pay anything.

J Del Rio-yeah people should cut back when the CEO of Bank of America just got a $75mil bonus-"Let them eat cake". Where is the outrage?