Poll: U.S. expectations hit new low

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. adults were more pessimistic than ever about the overall economy and their own personal finances as 2009 began, a Harris Poll indicated.

In an online survey conducted before President Barack Obama was inaugurated, Harris found just 11 percent said their household financial situation had improved during the previous year. That was down from 14 percent in November and 31 percent last July.

Just 20 percent of adults said they expected their financial circumstances would improve in six months. That was down from 24 percent in November and 36 percent in July.

Although 72 percent of those surveyed said economic conditions in their region were bad, just 32 percent said they expected their household financial situation would worsen during the first half of the year.

When asked about the outlook for the economy in their region in the next six months, 53 percent said they were pessimistic while just 23 percent said they were optimistic.

Just 6 percent said the job market in their region was good, while 76 percent said it was bad.

The poll of 2,848 adults was conducted Jan. 12-19. No margin of error was reported.