October Economy 2008

THE WISCONSIN SURVEY

Fall 2008

The Economy

Survey Information:

Random Selection, Telephone Survey

Number of Adult Wisconsin Resident Respondents: 400 LIKELY VOTERS

Interview Period: October 9 – October 17, 2008

Margin of Error: +/- 5% at the 95% confidence level.

Contact:

Wendy Scattergood

Assistant Professor of Political Science, St. Norbert College Survey Center

DePere, WI 54115

(920) 403-3491

wendy.scattergood@snc.edu

· NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

Compared to a year ago, do you think the national economy has gotten better, stayed the same, or gotten worse?

Better ........................................................... 1%

Same ........................................................... 5%

Worse ........................................................... 93%

Not Sure ........................................................... 2%

Refused ........................................................... 0%

	Fall 2004	Fall 2008
Better	32%	1%
Same	28%	5%
Worse	40%	93%

How much attention would you say you have been paying to news about Wall Street financial institutions?

A Lot ........................................................... 67%

Some ........................................................... 24%

Not Very Much......................................................... 6%

None At All ........................................................... 2%

Not Sure ........................................................... 1%

Refused ........................................................... 0%

In terms of its potential impact on the broader economy, do you think the country's current financial situation is a crisis, a serious problem but not a crisis, a problem but not a serious one, not much of a problem, or not a problem at all?

Crisis ........................................................... 47%

Serious Problem........................................................ 45%

Problem, But Not Serious.......................................... 6%

Not Much of A Problem............................................ 1%

Not a Problem At All................................................. 0%

Not Sure ........................................................... 1%

Refused ........................................................... 0%

Who do you think deserves the most blame for the current financial situation? (ANSWERS ROTATED)

President George Bush.............................................. 16%

Democrats in Congress.............................................. 9%

Republicans in Congress............................................ 4%

Wall Street financial institutions/banks......................... 29%

Homeowners who borrowed too much...................... 7%

Federal Reserve ....................................................... 1%

Treasury Department................................................. <1%

Many equally caused it (VOL)................................... 29%

Other ........................................................... 4%

Not Sure ........................................................... 1%

Refused ........................................................... 0%

Some people say that we should let the market right itself and not have Congress intervene in the financial markets, others say it is necessary Congress step in to avoid more serious economic problems. Which is closer to your own view, that……

Congress should not intervene, let the market take care of it .... 32%

Congress should intervene to avoid more serious economic problems...... 57%

Not Sure ........................................................... 9%

Refused ........................................................... 1%

Some people say that the bill to buy mortgage-related assets from banks and investment companies that Congress passed was merely a bailout for Wall Street and wouldn’t sufficiently help the overall economy, others say that it was necessary to help the overall economy. Which is closer to your own view, that….

It was a bailout of Wall Street not helpful to the overall economy 41%

It was necessary to help the entire economy............... 45%

Both (VOL.) ........................................................... 4%

Neither (VOL.)......................................................... 1%

Not Sure ........................................................... 9%

Refused ........................................................... 1%

Personal Impact

Compared to a year ago, do you feel that you are financially better off now, or worse off now than a year ago?

Better off now.................................................... 20%

Worse off now................................................... 60%

Same (volunteered)............................................. 20%

Not Sure............................................................ <1%

Refused / NA..................................................... 0%

Do you expect that at this time NEXT year you will be financially better off than now, or worse off than now?

Better off than now............................................. 51%

Worse off than now............................................ 20%

Same (volunteered)............................................. 17%

Not Sure............................................................ 12%

Refused / NA..................................................... 0%

	Better	Same	Worse
Fall '94	50%	31%	15%
Fall '95	46%	21%	26%
Fall '96	56%	19%	15%
Fall '97	54%	25%	14%
Fall '98	56%	21%	17%
Fall '99	63%	15%	20%
Fall '00	64%	20%	9%
Sp '02	54%	22%	15%
Fall '02	56%	13%	22%
Sp '03	53%	17%	26%
Fall '03	57%	14%	22%
Sp '04	57%	19%	16%
Sp '05	42%	25%	29%
Fall '05	40%	18%	38%
Sp '06	45%	24%	25%
Fall '06	56%	25%	16%
Sp '07	44%	27%	25%
Fall '07	44%	21%	28%
Sp '08	47%	17%	30%
Fall '08	51%	17%	20%
Median	54%	21%	21%