Contact: Sarah Stipicevic, Press Secretary
(212) 542-9265 sstipicevic@pgpf.org
The April 2014 Fiscal Confidence Index, Modeled after the Consumer Confidence Index, is 43 (100 is Neutral)
84 Percent of Voters Agree that Addressing the National Debt Should be Among the President and Congress’ Top Three Priorities
Nearly Two-Thirds (65 Percent, Up From 59 Percent in March) of Americans Believe the Country is on the Wrong Track on the issue
NEW YORK — The Peter G. Peterson Foundation today released the April 2014 Fiscal Confidence Index, a monthly measure of public attitudes about the nation's long-term debt and the efforts elected leaders are making to address America’s fiscal challenges. The April survey finds that Americans continue to have overwhelmingly negative views about the debt.
The April 2014 Fiscal Confidence Index, modeled after the Consumer Confidence Index, is 43 (100 is neutral), indicating that voters continue to hold deep concerns about America's fiscal situation.
Voters demonstrate a clear desire for their leaders in Washington to focus on the issue, as they broadly agree (84% agree/13% disagree) that the national debt should be among the President and Congress’ top 3 priorities; six in ten (62%) agree strongly. Americans also widely share concerns about the direction of the problem: nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans now say that the country is on the wrong track on addressing the issue, a six-point increase since last month (59%).
"Despite recent improvements to near-term deficits, America's major long-term fiscal challenges remain,” said Michael A. Peterson, President and COO of the Peterson Foundation. "Voters are urging action to address our debt because they understand that a solid fiscal foundation is an essential part of a strong economy. Getting our fiscal house in order would give the economy an immediate boost of confidence, while also leading to more growth, opportunity and prosperity longer term."
The Fiscal Confidence Index measures public opinion about the national debt by asking six questions in three key areas:
The survey results from these three areas are weighted equally and averaged to produce the Fiscal Confidence Index value. The Fiscal Confidence Index, like the Consumer Confidence Index, is indexed on a scale of 0 to 200, with a neutral midpoint of 100. A reading above 100 indicates positive sentiment. A reading below 100 indicates negative sentiment.
Fiscal Confidence Index Key Data Points:
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation commissioned a poll by the Global Strategy Group and North Star Opinion Research to survey public opinion on the national debt. The nationwide poll included 1,004 U.S. registered voters, surveyed by telephone between April 21 and April 24, 2014. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%. The poll examined voters’ opinions on the national debt, political leadership, and America’s fiscal and economic health.
Detailed poll results can be found online at: www.pgpf.org/what-we-are-doing/education-and-awareness/fiscal-confidence-index
About the Peter G. Peterson Foundation
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established by Pete Peterson — businessman, philanthropist, and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The Foundation is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the nature and urgency of key long-term fiscal challenges threatening America's future and to accelerating action on them. To address these challenges successfully, we work to bring Americans together to find and implement sensible, long-term solutions that transcend age, party lines and ideological divides in order to achieve real results. To learn more, please visit www.pgpf.org.
APPENDIX: Fiscal Confidence Index Methodology and Questions
CONCERN (38) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Thinking about our national debt over the last few years, would you say your level of concern has increased or decreased? ◊ Is that a lot or just a little? |
Apr 2014 | Mar 2014 | Feb 2014 | |
Increased a lot | 52% | 48% | 53% | |
Increased a little | 19% | 19% | 19% | |
Decreased a little | 10% | 9% | 9% | |
Decreased a lot | 5% | 6% | 5% | |
(No change) | 13% | 16% | 12% | |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 1% | 2% | 1% | |
INCREASED (NET) | 71% | 67% | 72% | |
DECREASED (NET) | 15% | 15% | 15% | |
When it comes to addressing our 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? ◊ Do you feel that way strongly or just somewhat? |
Apr 2014 | Mar 2014 | Feb 2014 | |
Right direction-Strongly | 9% | 10% | 11% | |
Right direction-Somewhat | 16% | 19% | 18% | |
Wrong track-Somewhat | 19% | 16% | 15% | |
Wrong track-Strongly | 46% | 43% | 48% | |
(Neither/Mixed) | 6% | 6% | 5% | |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 4% | 5% | 3% | |
RIGHT DIRECTION (NET) | 26% | 29% | 29% | |
WRONG TRACK (NET) | 65% | 59% | 63% |
PRIORITY (20) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Some people say that addressing the national debt should be among the President and Congress' top 3 priorities. Do you agree or disagree? ◊ Do you feel that way strongly or just somewhat? |
Apr 2014 | Mar 2014 | Feb 2014 | |
Strongly agree | 62% | 55% | 60% | |
Somewhat agree | 22% | 24% | 21% | |
Somewhat disagree | 8% | 10% | 8% | |
Strongly disagree | 6% | 7% | 8% | |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 3% | 4% | 4% | |
AGREE (NET) | 84% | 79% | 80% | |
DISAGREE (NET) | 13% | 17% | 16% | |
And when it comes to our national debt, do you think it is an issue that the President and Congress should spend more time addressing or less time addressing? ◊ Would you say a lot (more or less) time or just a little? |
Apr 2014 | Mar 2014 | Feb 2014 | |
A lot more time | 63% | 58% | 61% | |
A little more time | 20% | 22% | 20% | |
A little less time | 6% | 6% | 6% | |
A lot less time | 4% | 5% | 6% | |
(The same amount of time) | 5% | 4% | 3% | |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 2% | 4% | 3% | |
MORE TIME (NET) | 83% | 80% | 82% | |
LESS TIME (NET) | 10% | 11% | 12% |
EXPECTATIONS (69) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
And thinking about our national debt over the next few years, do you expect the problem to get better or worse? ◊ Is that much (better or worse) or just somewhat (better or worse)? |
Apr 2014 | Mar 2014 | Feb 2014 | |
Much better | 8% | 10% | 10% | |
Somewhat better | 17% | 19% | 21% | |
Somewhat worse | 27% | 23% | 22% | |
Much worse | 38% | 38% | 39% | |
(No change) | 5% | 6% | 4% | |
(Don't know/Refused) | 4% | 5% | 5% | |
BETTER (NET) | 26% | 28% | 31% | |
WORSE (NET) | 65% | 61% | 61% | |
And when it comes to our national debt, are you optimistic or pessimistic that the United States will be able to make progress on our national debt over the next few years? ◊ Would you say you are very (optimistic or pessimistic) or just somewhat? |
Apr 2014 | Mar 2014 | Feb 2014 | |
Very optimistic | 17% | 16% | 18% | |
Somewhat optimistic | 29% | 31% | 28% | |
Somewhat pessimistic | 19% | 15% | 17% | |
Very pessimistic | 30% | 30% | 31% | |
(Neither/Mixed) | 3% | 4% | 3% | |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 2% | 4% | 3% | |
OPTIMISTIC (NET) | 46% | 47% | 46% | |
PESSIMISTIC (NET) | 49% | 45% | 48% |