Americans anxious about economy despite strong growth: poll

Americans are anxious about economic issues despite the generally positive headline numbers, according to a new survey.

Two-thirds of respondents expressed concern about maintaining health coverage, while 64 percent said they were worried about how their ability to pay health bills. Another 63 percent cited retirement savings as an area of concern.

Seventy-seven percent of respondents said today’s children will be worse off than their parents.

{mosads}The findings were part of a study commissioned by the left-leaning Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), and surveyed 1,090 registered voters from across the political spectrum. 

The concerns come despite a healthy economic growth rate, which came in at 3.5 percent for the third quarter, and the lowest unemployment rate in nearly half a century.

The survey also found that Americans tend to react more favorably to policies seen as boosting opportunities rather than providing assistance. For example, only about a quarter of respondents said the government should guarantee health care and a comfortable standard of living, while the rest said people should be able to achieve those goals if they are willing to work. 

Similarly, 81 percent subscribed to the view that government policies should help Americans through job training and creating opportunities, as opposed to 19 percent who said the government should supplement incomes and guarantee jobs for the unemployed.

The results could inform the debate among Democrats looking ahead to the 2020 presidential election. The party has been grappling with calls from its left flank to increase the government’s role in health care and income distribution.

“The agenda that could help Democrats sustain a governing majority, our poll suggests, is one that is progressive yet pragmatic—one that’s optimistic, aspirational and respects Americans’ beliefs in individual initiative and self-determination,” the PPI’s Anne Kim and Will Marshall wrote in their analysis.

The survey was conducted by Pete Brodnitz at Expedition Strategies. It had a margin of error of 2.97 percent and was conducted online between Oct. 9-16, but released in mid-November.