Wall Street Journal/NORC Poll.pdf

A WSJ/NORC poll conducted March 1-13, 2023, among 1,019 adults, found:
- 20% described the nation's economy as excellent or good, while 80% said poor or not so good.
- 15% thought the economy will get better, 38% said it will stay the same, and 47% believed it will get worse over the next year.
- 16% were pretty well satisfied with their financial situation, 46% more or less satisfied, and 38% not satisfied at all.
- 22% said their financial situation had improved, 39% worsened, and 39% stayed the same over the last few years.
- 28% agreed that people like them have a good chance of improving their standard of living.
- 21% felt confident that life for the next generation will be better, while 78% did not.
- 44% said their finances were in worse condition than expected, 39% about as expected, and 17% better than expected.
- 11% thought it would be very easy to find a similar job, 34% somewhat easy, and 52% not easy at all.
- 28% said the cost of living is rising and creating major financial strains, 32% minor strains, 32% not a problem but potentially will be, and 6% not concerned.
- Major concerns for households included inflation (65%), housing (43%), healthcare and prescription drug costs (41%), childcare costs (15%), and student loan debt (17%).