North America
One in Five American Workers Expect US Economic Recovery to Bypass Them -- GfK Study
Research firm drawing on best-in-class methods to
provide insights on "21 percenters,” who are optimistic
for the US – but not for themselves
New York, NY; October 12, 2012: A new GfK analysis suggests that President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney should use the second presidential debate to convince voters that their plans to improve the national economy will translate into good news for individual Americans.
Although AP-GfK polling shows that nearly half (49%) of all American adults expect the U.S. economy to get better over the next 12 months, almost half of them -- 21% of adults overall – doubt that national economic prosperity will trickle down to them personally.
These "21 percenters” are in many ways the backbone of the American economy and recovery, according to the poll. Just over three-quarters (76%) are working age, including 34% in the key 30-49 consumer cohort. Yet they are more conscious of inflationary pressures; nearly seven-in-ten (68%) think consumer prices will increase over the next 12 months – more than other Americans polled (63%).
"The town hall format of the second debate is the perfect forum for the presidential candidates to speak to what their policies will mean for Americans’ personal finances,” said Christopher Fleury, Vice President of GfK Public Affairs & Corporate Communications. "Voters want to see that the candidates ‘get it’ that an improving economy overall needs to improve the financial well-being of individual Americans, too.”
Compared to the 49% of Americans who say the economy will get better, GfK found that 24% expect it to stay the same, and 15% say the economy will get worse.
