National Economic Conditions (October 2017)

National Economic Conditions (October 2017)

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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"

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categoryTotal
A lot better off18%
Somewhat better off25%
About the same33%
Somewhat worse off16%
A lot worse off6%
Don't know3%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Measurement of Party ID for this figure is based on two questions. First, respondents were asked whether they consider themselves to be a Democrats, Republicans, independents, other, or not sure. Those who responded that they are independents or "other" were then asked if they lean toward either the Democrats or Republicans. If they indicated that they lean toward one party or the other, they are considered Democrats or Republicans for the purposes of this figure. Only "pure" independents or members of a third party who indicate that they have no preference for Democrats vis-a-vis Republicans are considered independents . Respondents who answered that they are "not sure" for either of the two aforementioned questions are not incorporated into this figure.
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categoryDemocratIndependentRepublican
A lot better off3%20%30%
Somewhat better off10%26%39%
About the same44%31%24%
Somewhat worse off30%14%4%
A lot worse off10%5%2%
Don't know2%5%2%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
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categoryLean DemocratNot very strong DemocratStrong Democrat
A lot better off0%2%4%
Somewhat better off10%11%10%
About the same42%48%43%
Somewhat worse off36%26%29%
A lot worse off9%13%10%
Don't know3%0%3%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
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categoryLean RepublicanNot very strong RepublicanStrong Republican
A lot better off37%19%34%
Somewhat better off43%29%43%
About the same16%41%17%
Somewhat worse off3%6%3%
A lot worse off0%3%2%
Don't know1%2%2%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Ideology is measured on a scale of 1-7, with 1 corresponding to "extremely liberal", 7 corresponding to "extremely conservative, and 4 corresponding to "in the middle." For the purposes of this table, respondents who placed themselves at or between points 1 and 3 on the scale are considered "liberal," respondents who placed themselves at point 4 on the scale are considered "moderate," and respondents who placed themselves at or between points 5 and 7 on the scale are considered conservative.
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categoryLiberalsModeratesConservatives
A lot better off3%8%32%
Somewhat better off13%18%37%
About the same39%47%21%
Somewhat worse off31%16%6%
A lot worse off12%7%2%
Don't know3%4%2%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    The ideology measure is based on respondent self-placement in response to the following question: "On a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 is extremely liberal, 7 is extremely conservative, and 4 is exactly in the middle, where would you place yourself?" The placements are further classified such that 1 is extremely liberal, 2 is very liberal, 3 is somewhat liberal, 4 is moderate, 5 is somewhat conservative, 6 is very conservative, and 7 is extremely conservative.
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categoryLeaning liberalSomewhat liberalExtremely liberal
A lot better off9%0%2%
Somewhat better off11%16%10%
About the same46%42%29%
Somewhat worse off26%31%35%
A lot worse off5%9%21%
Don't know3%2%3%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    The ideology measure is based on respondent self-placement in response to the following question: "On a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 is extremely liberal, 7 is extremely conservative, and 4 is exactly in the middle, where would you place yourself?" The placements are further classified such that 1 is extremely liberal, 2 is very liberal, 3 is somewhat liberal, 4 is moderate, 5 is somewhat conservative, 6 is very conservative, and 7 is extremely conservative.
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categoryLeaning conservativeSomewhat conservativeExtremely conservative
A lot better off14%33%41%
Somewhat better off39%34%38%
About the same29%22%16%
Somewhat worse off14%6%3%
A lot worse off3%2%1%
Don't know1%3%1%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Tea Party identification is based on the following question, also asked in the survey: "Suppose the Tea Party movement organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district, or the Tea Party candidate from your district?" Those who responded "Republican candidate" are considered Republicans (non-Tea Party movement) and those who responded "Tea Party candidate" are considered Tea Party Republicans.
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categoryDemocratRepublicanTea Party
A lot better off3%27%44%
Somewhat better off11%36%36%
About the same45%28%12%
Somewhat worse off29%5%5%
A lot worse off10%2%2%
Don't know2%1%1%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Race is calculated according to the race variable.
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categoryWhiteBlackHispanic
A lot better off22%9%9%
Somewhat better off31%8%22%
About the same27%47%41%
Somewhat worse off14%24%18%
A lot worse off4%9%10%
Don't know3%3%1%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Gender is calculated according to the GENDER variable.
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categoryMaleFemale
A lot better off22%13%
Somewhat better off29%22%
About the same31%34%
Somewhat worse off11%20%
A lot worse off5%7%
Don't know2%3%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Community is based on the following question, " Would you say that you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community?"
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categoryUrbanSuburbanRural
A lot better off14%16%26%
Somewhat better off18%29%27%
About the same39%30%30%
Somewhat worse off20%17%7%
A lot worse off6%7%4%
Don't know3%1%6%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Age is calculated according to the AGEG variable.
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category18-2930-4445-6465+
A lot better off13%11%16%30%
Somewhat better off20%25%26%27%
About the same34%40%32%25%
Somewhat worse off20%14%17%13%
A lot worse off9%5%7%4%
Don't know3%6%2%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?"
    Education is calculated according to the EDUC variable.
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categoryNo high schoolHigh school graduateSome college2-year4-yearPost-grad
A lot better off16%19%16%20%17%17%
Somewhat better off6%22%25%28%26%33%
About the same48%38%31%26%34%26%
Somewhat worse off18%13%20%16%15%16%
A lot worse off7%6%5%7%7%5%
Don't know4%2%3%2%2%4%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?" Religiosity is calculated according to the IMPORT variable.
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categoryExtremely importantSomewhat importantNot very importantNot at all important
A lot better off21%21%7%8%
Somewhat better off25%25%31%21%
About the same33%31%35%35%
Somewhat worse off13%14%20%24%
A lot worse off5%7%5%9%
Don't know3%2%2%3%
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    Respondents were asked, "Compared to a year ago, would you say that the national economy is a lot better off, somewhat better off, about the same, somewhat worse off, or a lot worse off?" Fundamentalism is calculated according to the LITERAL variable.
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categoryThe Bible is the word of God, to be taken literallyThe Bible is the word of God, not to be taken literallyThe Bible is a book written by men
A lot better off23%18%11%
Somewhat better off23%30%21%
About the same32%32%34%
Somewhat worse off11%16%24%
A lot worse off9%3%7%
Don't know3%1%2%

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