Poll: Most ever feel worse than a year ago

PRINCETON, N.J., June 3 (UPI) -- A record number of U.S. adults in a recent poll indicated they are financially worse off than they were a year ago, Gallup researchers said.

Gallup said it had asked the same question for 32 years and their May 30-June 1 poll was the first time those indicating they were worse off than a year ago had gone past 50 percent.

The figure jumped from 44 percent in early February to 55 percent, Gallup said.

The previous high was 47 percent, recorded in 1982 during the Reagan administration.

Only 26 percent of those 1,012 adults polled May 30-June 1 indicated they were better off than a year ago, Gallup said.

Perhaps believing the worst is over or currently in front of them, 52 percent of those polled indicated they thought they would be financially better off a year from now.

The poll carries a margin of error of plus and minus 3 percent, Gallup said.