The August 2015 Fiscal Confidence Index, Modeled after the Consumer Confidence Index, is 44 (100 is Neutral)
NEW YORK — The Peter G. Peterson Foundation’s August 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, shows an overwhelming majority of Americans remain concerned about the nation’s fiscal future. The Fiscal Confidence Index, modeled after the Consumer Confidence Index, is 44 (100 is neutral), indicating voters’ consistent call for addressing our long-term fiscal challenges and putting the nation on a sustainable fiscal path.
With Presidential candidates engaging Americans on the top issues impacting the country, an overwhelming majority of voters (85%) are now calling for the President and Congress to spend more time addressing our nation’s long-term fiscal future. More than two-thirds (68%) say their concern about this vital issue has increased over the last few years, including nearly one-half (46%) who say it has increased "a lot." Majorities of voters across party lines, including 53% of Democrats, 69% of Independents, and 84% of Republicans, say that their concerns about the debt have deepened in recent years.
"Once again, the Fiscal Confidence Index makes clear that voters want candidates to put forward plans to address our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges," said Michael A. Peterson, President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. “Americans understand that putting our fiscal house in order is vital to ensure a growing, prosperous economy and are calling for more action from their leaders."
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 1,005 U.S. registered voters, surveyed by telephone between August 17 and August 20, 2015. 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/FiscalConfidenceIndex
About the Peter G. Peterson Foundation
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the nature and urgency of key 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 (36) | |||
---|---|---|---|
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? |
Aug 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 |
Increased a lot | 46% | 44% | 46% |
Increased a little | 22% | 21% | 21% |
Decreased a little | 7% | 11% | 10% |
Decreased a lot | 5% | 6% | 6% |
(No change) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 1% | 1% | 1% |
INCREASED (NET) | 68% | 65% | 67% |
DECREASED (NET) | 13% | 17% | 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? |
Aug 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 |
Right direction-Strongly | 7% | 10% | 9% |
Right direction-Somewhat | 17% | 17% | 15% |
Wrong track-Somewhat | 19% | 19% | 18% |
Wrong track-Strongly | 45% | 42% | 44% |
(Neither/Mixed) | 7% | 7% | 9% |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 5% | 5% | 5% |
RIGHT DIRECTION (NET) | 24% | 27% | 24% |
WRONG TRACK (NET) | 64% | 61% | 62% |
PRIORITY (21) | |||
---|---|---|---|
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? |
Aug 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 |
Strongly agree | 57% | 52% | 55% |
Somewhat agree | 23% | 30% | 24% |
Somewhat disagree | 10% | 9% | 10% |
Strongly disagree | 7% | 6% | 6% |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 4% | 3% | 4% |
AGREE (NET) | 80% | 82% | 79% |
DISAGREE (NET) | 16% | 15% | 17% |
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? |
Aug 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 |
A lot more time | 61% | 59% | 55% |
A little more time | 23% | 24% | 25% |
A little less time | 4% | 6% | 6% |
A lot less time | 3% | 3% | 2% |
(The same amount of time) | 5% | 5% | 8% |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 3% | 3% | 4% |
MORE TIME (NET) | 85% | 83% | 80% |
LESS TIME (NET) | 7% | 9% | 8% |
EXPECTATIONS (76) | |||
---|---|---|---|
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)? |
Aug 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 |
Much better | 7% | 8% | 7% |
Somewhat better | 18% | 20% | 20% |
Somewhat worse | 27% | 26% | 28% |
Much worse | 30% | 27% | 30% |
(No change) | 9% | 8% | 7% |
(Don't know/Refused) | 9% | 11% | 8% |
BETTER (NET) | 25% | 28% | 26% |
WORSE (NET) | 57% | 54% | 58% |
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? |
Aug 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 |
Very optimistic | 18% | 15% | 19% |
Somewhat optimistic | 30% | 31% | 30% |
Somewhat pessimistic | 18% | 21% | 19% |
Very pessimistic | 24% | 25% | 25% |
(Neither/Mixed) | 6% | 4% | 5% |
(Don't Know/Refused) | 5% | 5% | 3% |
OPTIMISTIC (NET) | 47% | 46% | 49% |
PESSIMISTIC (NET) | 42% | 46% | 43% |