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How about (1996-LATER: Now thinking about) the economy (1990,1994- later: in the country as a whole)? ALL YEARS EXC. 2000 VERSION 2: Would you say that over the past year the nation’s economy has gotten better, stayed (all yrs. exc 1984: about) the same or gotten worse? 2000 VERSION 2: Would you say that over the past year the nation’s economy has gotten worse, stayed about the same, or gotten better?
National economy better or worse over past year · Asked in 18 waves, 1980–2024 · 49,352 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Kept and flagged: 0 (no_answer), 8 (dk). Codebook notes: 2000 NOTE: Respondents were randomly selected to be administered this question using either the standard format or and alternative version with the order of options read aloud reversed.
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Group | Better | Stayed same | Worse | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 20% | 22% |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V241291. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 5,276 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V201325. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 8,280 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V161140. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 4,270 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: econ_ecpast. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,914 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V083083. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,322 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V043097. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,212 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V023027. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,511 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| 58% |
| 5276 |
| ±2 |
| Northeast | 21% | 22% | 56% | 831 | ±5 |
| Midwest | 20% | 23% | 57% | 1343 | ±4 |
| South | 18% | 21% | 61% | 1984 | ±3 |
| West | 23% | 22% | 55% | 1118 | ±4 |
ANES 2024 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 |
| mixed |
| 1,807 |
| 1,807 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980418. | 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 | mixed | 1,281 | 1,281 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V960385. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,714 |
| ANES 1994 Time Series Study Source variable: V940908. | 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 | mixed | 1,795 | 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V923531. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,485 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900422. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880243. | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 2,040 |
| ANES 1986 Time Series Study Source variable: V860372. | 1986-11-05 to 1987-02-07 | face to face | 2,176 | 2,176 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V840227. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 2,257 |
| ANES 1982 Time Series Study Source variable: V820327. | 1982-11-02 to 1983-01-31 | face to face | 1,418 | 1,418 |
| ANES 1980 Time Series Study Source variable: V800149. | 1980-09-02 to 1981-02-07 | face to face | 1,614 | 1,614 |