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1992: Compared to four years ago, would you say that the nation’s economy has gotten better, stayed about the same, or gotten worse? 2000: Would you say that compared to 1992, the nation’s economy is better, worse, or about the same? 2004: Would you say that compared to 2000, the nation’s economy is better, worse, or about the same? 2016: Would you say that compared to 2008, the nation’s economy is now better, worse, or about the same?
National economy better or worse since earlier period · Asked in 4 waves, 1992–2016 · 9,467 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Dropped only in years where the codebook names a design split (alternate form, half sample, abbreviated or web instrument): -9 in 1992, 2000. Kept and flagged: -9 (other_missing), -8 (dk). Codebook notes: This describes the change in the economy since the current President was first elected. 1992: George Bush Sr., 2000: Bill Clinton, 2004: George W. Bush, 2016: Barack Obama. Wording in 1998 was not comparable (“since Clinton took office”).
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2016).
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 | Gotten better | Stayed the same | Gotten worse | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 40% | 25% | 35% | 4270 | ±2 | |
| Democrats |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V161235. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 4,270 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V043213. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,212 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study Source variable: V000814,V001596. | 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 | mixed | 1,807 | 1,678 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V923535. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,307 |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2016).
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.
| 60% |
| 25% |
| 15% |
| 1449 |
| ±3 |
| Independents (incl. leaners) | 36% | 29% | 36% | 1569 | ±3 |
| Republicans | 20% | 21% | 59% | 1229 | ±3 |
ANES 2016 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.