FT-Peterson US Economic Monitor

The Financial Times-Peterson Foundation US Economic Monitor is a monthly poll of voters on the state of the economy and the national debt, examining how these factors affect Americans’ perspectives on their personal financial condition. Launched in November 2019, the survey tracks voter sentiment on economic and fiscal issues for the twelve months leading up to the 2020 election.

The online poll is conducted monthly by Democratic polling firm Global Strategy Group and Republican polling firm North Star Opinion Research. It includes an oversample to get a closer look at voters in battleground states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

September 2020 Results

The 11th FT-Peterson poll, released on September 22, surveyed an online sample of 1,003 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from September 9, 2020 to September 14, 2020. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 65% of likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track. While the vast majority of Democrats (12% right direction/88% wrong track) and independents (28% right direction/72% wrong track) say we are on the wrong track, Republicans are more divided (63% right direction/37% wrong track).

When it comes to the effects of the national debt, a plurality of voters (31%) are most concerned that it could threaten programs like Social Security and Medicare, up 6 points since June. Other concerns include that the debt harms economic growth and personal incomes (18%), that interest on the debt limits resources available for national priorities (13%), and that the debt leaves the government with less flexibility to respond to crises (11%).

This month’s survey also took a detailed look at the impact of the coronavirus on public opinion regarding school re-opening, vaccines, social distancing and economic recovery. .

Below is a look at a few key questions from this month’s survey, and you can view the full results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The 10th FT-Peterson poll, released on August 18, surveyed an online sample of 1,001 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from August 5, 2020 to August 9, 2020. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 70% of likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track — the highest percentage this year. While the vast majority of Democrats (7% right direction/93% wrong track) and independents (22% right direction/78% wrong track) say we are on the wrong track, Republicans are more divided (59% right direction/41% wrong track).

When it comes to the effects of the national debt, the plurality of voters (30%) are most concerned that it could threaten programs like Social Security and Medicare, up 5-points since June. Democrats (35%) are especially concerned that it could threaten programs like Social Security and Medicare. Their other concerns include that the debt harms economic growth and personal incomes (18%), that the debt leaves the government with less flexibility to respond to crises (13%), and that interest on the debt limits resources available for national priorities (13%).

This month’s survey also took a detailed look at the impact of the coronavirus on public opinion regarding school re-opening, vaccines, social distancing and economic recovery.

Below is a look at a few key questions from this month’s survey, and you can view the full results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The ninth FT-Peterson poll, released on July X, surveyed an online sample of 1,000 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from June 23, 2020 to June 29, 2020. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 65% of likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track — the highest percentage this year. More than twice the percentage of Democrats (87%) than Republicans (40%) believe management of the debt is on the wrong track.

Across party lines, voters are most concerned that the debt could threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare. Their number-two worry is that the debt will harm economic growth and the future incomes of U.S. households, up approximately 40% since February. Their third concern, that interest on the debt limits resources for other national priorities like infrastructure or climate change, is up two points this month.

This month’s poll took another deep dive into public views on the coronavirus.

Below is a look at a few key questions from this month’s survey, and you can view the full results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The eighth FT-Peterson poll, released on June 4, surveyed an online sample of 1,000 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from May 20, 2020 to May 26, 2020. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 64% of likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track, including 67% of voters in battleground states. Those percentages are the highest in 2020.

Nationwide, more than twice the percentage of Democrats (85%) than Republicans (39%) believe management of the debt is on the wrong track. Voters remain most concerned that the debt could threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare. Their number-two worry is that the debt will harm economic growth and the future incomes of U.S. households, up approximately 40% since February.

This month’s poll took another deep dive into public views on the coronavirus.

Below is a look at a few key questions from this month’s survey, and you can view the full results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The seventh FT-Peterson poll, released on May 7, surveyed an online sample of 1,000 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from April 23, 2020 to April 27, 2020. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 63% of likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track. Voters remain most concerned that the debt could threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare. Their number-two worry is that the debt will harm economic growth and the future incomes of U.S. households, up 33% since February. Voters’ concern that the rising debt will leave the government with less flexibility to respond to economic and other crises is nearly twice as high as it was in February.

This month’s poll took another deep dive into public views on the coronavirus

Below is a look at a few key questions from this month’s survey, and you can view the full results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The sixth FT-Peterson poll, released on April 7, surveyed an online sample of 1,005 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from March 24, 2020 to March 29, 2020. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 61% of likely 2020 voters, including 63% in battleground states, believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track. Voters are most concerned that the debt could threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare. Their number-two worry is that the debt will harm economic growth and the future incomes of U.S. households, up four points from last month. Voters’ concern that the rising debt will leave the government with less flexibility to respond to economic and other crises is also up four points this month.

This month’s poll also took a deeper dive into public views on the coronavirus.

Below is a look at a few key questions from the April survey, and you can view the full poll results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The fifth FT-Peterson poll, released on March 5, surveyed an online sample of 1,005 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from February 20 to February 23. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 61% of likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track. Voters are most concerned that the debt could threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare – and that concern increased by three points this month. Their number-two worry is that interest on the debt, projected to total $5.9 trillion over the next decade, will limit resources available for other priorities, such as infrastructure, climate change, education, and defense.

Below is a look at a few key questions from the February survey, and you can view the full poll results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The fourth FT-Peterson poll, released on February 6, surveyed an online sample of 1,004 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from January 21 to January 26. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

This month’s poll showed that 62% of likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track – a slight uptick from previous months. Voters remain concerned that the debt could harm economic growth, threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare, and also limit resources available for other priorities, such as infrastructure, climate change, education, and defense.

Below is a look at a few key questions from the January survey, and you can view the full poll results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The third FT-Peterson poll, released on January 9, surveyed an online sample of 1,003 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country from December 16 to December 22. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

The survey again shows that six in ten likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track (40% right direction/60% wrong track). Voters remain concerned that the debt could harm economic growth and threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare. The share of voters who agree that interest on the debt limits resources available for other priorities, such as infrastructure, climate change, education, and defense, increased by 5 points.

Below is a look at a few key questions from the January survey, and you can view the full poll results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The second FT-Peterson poll, released on December 5, surveyed an online sample of 1,010 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country on November 19–24. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

The December survey shows that by a strong margin, likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track (36% right direction/64% wrong track). The share of battleground state voters who say management of the national debt is “off on the wrong track” is also up by 6 points to 66%. Voters are concerned that the debt could harm economic growth and threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare.

Below is a look at a few key questions from the December survey, and you can view the full poll results here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?

The first poll, released on November 4, shows that while voters are divided on the strength of the economy, they are deeply concerned about our fiscal condition.

By a strong margin, likely 2020 voters believe that management of the national debt is on the wrong track (37% right direction/63% wrong track). Voters are concerned that the debt could harm economic growth and threaten key programs like Social Security and Medicare.

The poll was conducted by Democratic polling firm Global Strategy Group and Republican polling firm North Star Opinion Research on October 21–25. It surveyed an online sample of 1,005 likely 2020 voters across socioeconomic groups and across the country, and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at 95 percent confidence level.

Below is a more detailed look at the November results for a few key questions, and you can read more here.

When it comes to managing the national debt, would you say things in the United States are heading in the right direction, or do you think things are off on the wrong track?

Which of the following is the most significant effect of the national debt on the United States economy?

Which of the following do you believe is the biggest obstacle to managing the national debt?