Snapshot of America in the Middle of an Economic Collapse -- Half of USA Homeowners Worry They'll Be Late with the Mortgage: 1,200 Americans interviewed by SurveyUSA as the Dow Jones Industrial Average descended toward 8,000. 78% say they understand what is happening to the economy. Of them:

3 of 4 have cut back on their spending, enough to strangle this economy or any other. Of those who have cut back:
1 in 4 have cut back 10% on their spending.
1 in 4 have cut back 20% on their spending.
Almost half have cut back 30% or more on their spending, which foreshadows a possibly violent contraction.

56% say it's fair to call what is happening with the economy a "crash."
Half of homeowners are worried about being late on the mortgage.
3 of 4 renters are woried about being late with the rent.
1 in 4 have changed how or where they keep their money, to put it some place more safe.
Perhaps worst of all, 6 in 10 have no confidence in the government's ability to fix the economy, unchanged from a SurveyUSA tracking poll conducted before the US Congress passed an economic rescue package, that so far has not appeared to rescue anything.

1

  Asked of 1200 Adults

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 2.4%

Do you understand what is happening to the US economy?

78%

Yes

19%

No

3%

Not Sure

2

  Asked of 725 split sample of those who understand what's happening

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.7%

Is it fair to call this a market "crash,? Unfair to use the word crash? Or, do you not know enough to say?

56%

Fair

27%

Unfair

17%

Don't Know Enough To Say

3

  Asked of 740 homeowners

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.7%

Do you worry a lot? A little? Or do you not worry ... about being able to make your mortgage payments?

27%

A Lot

29%

A Little

43%

Do Not Worry

1%

Not Sure

4

  Asked of 227 renters

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 6.6%

Do you worry a lot? A little? Or do you not worry ... about falling behind on the rent?

47%

A Lot

27%

A Little

26%

Do Not Worry

0%

Not Sure

5

  Asked of 569 who work outside the home

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.2%

Do you worry a lot? A little? Or do you not worry ... about losing your job?

30%

A Lot

32%

A Little

38%

Do Not Worry

0%

Not Sure

6

  Asked of 988 Adults

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 2.9%

Have you changed how or where you keep your money to make it more safe?

24%

Have Changed

72%

Have Not

4%

Not Sure

7

  Asked of 988 Adults

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 2.8%

Some people have cut back on spending, others have not. How about you?

75%

Have Cut Back

22%

Have Not

3%

Not Sure

8

  Asked of 739 who have cut back

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.7%

How much have you cut back?

26%

10%

26%

20%

18%

30%

8%

40%

17%

50%

4%

Not Sure

9

  Asked of 1200 Adults

  Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 2.8%

Do you have confidence? Or no confidence? In the government's ability to fix the economy?

25%

Confidence

62%

No Confidence

13%

Not Sure

x

  Complete Interactive Crosstabs

i

  Statement of Methodology

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  © 2008 SurveyUSA / Contractual Obligations