This week report consists of nineteen surveys. Two of these are multi-country surveys while the rest of twenty are national surveys from different states across the world.

381-43-21 Commentary: Family Support in Graying Societies

May 21, 2015.

$Description: C:\Users\sara\Desktop\MAHAM SALEEM\Gallopedia\May 381\Images 381\old-hand-care-elderly-xs-300x242.jpg$ Family Support in Graying Societies

How Americans, Germans and Italians Are Coping with an Aging Population

In 2015, Germany and Italy are already at a level the U.S. may reach in 2050.

The United States is turning gray, with the number of people ages 65 and older expected to nearly double by 2050. This major demographic transition has implications for the economy, government programs such as Social Security and families across the U.S. Among adults with at least one parent 65 or older, nearly three-in-ten already say that in the preceding 12 months they have helped their parents financially. Twice that share report assisting a parent with personal care or day-to-day tasks. Based on demographic change alone, the burden on families seems likely to grow in the coming decades.

Germany and Italy, two of the “oldest” nations in the world, after only Japan, are already where the U.S. will be in 2050: a fifth of the population in each country is age 65 or older. Compared with the U.S. today, a higher share of adults in Germany and Italy report helping their aging parents with basic tasks, and more in Italy have also provided personal care. However, in both countries, fewer adults than in the U.S. say they have provided financial assistance to their aging parents.

The latter difference underscores that, while Germany and Italy may provide a window into the demographic future of the United States, cultural and political factors nonetheless distinguish the three countries. Nothing speaks to this more than the fact that, compared with Americans, twice as many Germans and even more Italians think the government should bear the greatest responsibility for people’s economic well-being in their old age. By contrast, in the U.S. a majority say that families or individuals themselves should see to the well-being of seniors.

These are among the key findings from a new survey by the Pew Research Center that compares the way families in the U.S., Germany and Italy are coping as more people enter their senior years and eventually require assistance. Based on interviews with at least 1,500 adults ages 18 and older in each country, the survey also finds that many families are facing the dual challenge of caring for aging parents while also supporting adult children. In the U.S., Germany and Italy, about half or more of adults who have at least one child 18 years of age or older say they have provided financial help to an adult child in the 12 months preceding the survey; at least as many in each country have assisted grown children in non-monetary ways.

Notably, in all three countries, financial help is more likely to flow down to adult children than up to aging parents. However, when it comes to “sweat equity,” about as many in each country are assisting senior-age parents with their needs as are helping adult children with child care, errands, housework and other day-to-day tasks.

Widespread Concerns About the Future of Social Security

Even as about half or more of Italians and Germans say the state should be mostly responsible for ensuring financial stability in old age, many in all three countries surveyed are skeptical that there will be enough money in their countries’ social security systems when they retire to provide benefits, even at a reduced level. All three systems are financed through worker contributions and, in Europe more than in the U.S., the growing number of older adults along with a shrinking pool of younger active contributors has made it difficult to fund pensions for current retirees.

Among those who have not yet retired, only 20% of Americans expect the Social Security system to have enough money when they are ready to retire to provide them with benefits at current levels. An additional 31% say they expect to receive benefits at reduced levels, and 41% think they will receive no benefits at all.

Germans and Italians are even more doubtful that their countries’ social security systems will be able to maintain their current levels of support. In Germany, 11% think they will receive benefits from the Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung (Germany’s equivalent to the U.S. Social Security system) at current levels, 45% think they will receive benefits at reduced levels, and 41% expect to get no benefits at all. Among Italians, only 7% believe there will be enough money in the Previdenza Sociale to provide them with benefits at their current levels, 29% expect benefits but at reduced levels, and fully 53% think they will not get any benefits.

Few Italians Saving for Retirement

If government benefits are reduced or not available, future retirees will need to rely even more heavily on their own personal savings. More than half of Americans (56%) and Germans (61%) who are not retired say they are putting money in a private retirement plan or other savings account aside from social security contributions. But in Italy, just 23% say they are doing this; fully 76% say they are not saving for retirement.

In all three countries, majorities of young adults ages 18 to 29 say they are not currently saving for retirement aside from social security contributions. Still, a substantial share of young adults in Germany (44%) and the U.S. (41%) say they are saving for retirement. By comparison, only 13% of young adults in Italy say they are saving for retirement. And even among Italians ages 50 to 64 –those who are closest to retiring – only 25% say they are putting money in a private retirement plan or other private savings account.

Men and women are equally likely to say they are saving for retirement, whether in the U.S., Germany or Italy. And across all three countries, saving for retirement is highly correlated with financial security. Those who say they live comfortably are among the most likely to report that they are saving for retirement beyond what they are contributing to social security, while those who say they do not have enough money to meet their basic expenses are among the least likely to be saving.

In fact, most adults who are not saving for retirement report that this is mainly because they do not have enough money to save right now, while relatively few say it is because they have not yet started to think about retirement. About two-thirds of Americans and Italians who are not currently saving for retirement say this is mainly because they lack the funds, as do about half in Germany.

Most See Helping an Aging Parent as a Responsibility

In addition to relying more heavily on private savings, future retirees may also need to turn to family members for support as they age. Majorities across the three countries believe adult children have a responsibility to provide financial assistance to an aging parent in need. Many also see providing financial support for adult children as a responsibility, while far fewer say the same about providing childcare for grandchildren or saving money to hand down to their children after they die.

About three-quarters or more in Italy (87%) and the U.S. (76%) view providing financial assistance to aging parents in need as a responsibility, as do 58% in Germany. Young Americans and Germans are more likely than older people in their countries to say adult children have a responsibility to help aging parents in need; 86% of 18- to 29-year-olds in the U.S. and 76% in Germany see this as a responsibility, compared with 64% of Americans and 57% of Germans ages 65 and older.

Similar shares of Italians across age groups see helping an aging parent in need as a responsibility but, unlike in the U.S. and Germany, there are differences in how younger and older Italians perceive support to grown children. More than eight-in-ten (85%) Italians ages 65 and older say providing financial support to an adult child in need is a responsibility, compared with 58% of 18- to 29-year-olds. Overall, 73% of Italians and 63% of Germans say parents have a responsibility to help an adult child financially if needed; half of Americans share this view.

When asked about helping with child care for grandchildren, half of Italians see it as a responsibility; about four-in-ten (38%) Germans and one-third of Americans say this is the case. And while Americans are somewhat more likely than Italians and Germans to say parents have a responsibility to leave behind an inheritance, relatively few in each country say so (36%, 27% and 16%, respectively).

More Are Giving Time Rather than Money to Help Aging Parents

Assistance to aging parents and to adult children takes on many forms, but in all three countries, more say they are helping their aging parents with errands, housework or home repairs than say they are providing financial help or help with personal care, such as helping them bathe or get dressed. The pattern of support to adult children is less consistent across countries.1

Seven-in-ten Italians (70%) say they have helped an aging parent with errands, housework or home repairs in the 12 months preceding the survey, while about a quarter or fewer say they have provided help with personal care (26%) or finances (20%). Similarly, 68% of Germans with an aging parent have helped with errands, housework or home repairs, but half as many as in Italy have assisted a parent with personal care; 13% in Germany have done this. As in Italy, about one-in-five Germans (18%) have helped an aging parent financially.

In the U.S., about six-in-ten (58%) have assisted an aging parent with errands, housework or home repairs in the preceding 12 months. About three-in-ten (28%) say they have helped financially, while half as many (14%) say they have helped a parent with personal care, such as bathing or getting dressed.

In the three countries surveyed, more say they have given financial help to an adult child in the preceding 12 months than say they have similarly helped an aging parent. About six-in-ten (61%) Americans with at least one grown child say they have given their children at least some financial support, far more than say they have helped their children with errands, housework or home repairs (39%) or with child care (33%).

In Italy and Germany, about as many say they have helped their children financially as say they have helped with errands, housework or home repairs. About six-in-ten Italians with an adult child say they have provided each type of assistance in the preceding 12 months; among Germans, 48% say they have helped a grown child financially and 44% say they have helped with errands, housework or home repairs. About a third of Italians (35%) and Germans (33%) with grown children have helped with child care.

The Sandwich Generation

About three-in-ten (31%) adults in Italy, 23% of Americans and 19% of Germans overall are “sandwiched” between their children and their parents – that is, they have one or two parents age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or have provided financial assistance to a grown child in the preceding 12 months. Among those in their 40s and 50s, much larger shares are in this situation.

Fully 64% Italians in their 40s and 50s have a parent age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or have provided financial assistance to a grown child in the preceding 12 months. Nearly half of Americans (47%) and 41% of Germans in the same age group are also sandwiched between their children and aging parents.

Despite the added demand on this group, many of whom are providing financial and other help to both an aging parent and an adult child, those who are part of the sandwich generation are as likely as other adults to say they are generally happy with their lives and to express high levels of satisfaction with their family life, the number of friends they have, the quality of life in their community and their present housing situation. They are also no more likely than other adults to say helping an aging parent is stressful. In the U.S., however, those who are sandwiched between generations are more likely to say helping an adult child is stressful than those who have provided financial help to an adult child but are not part of the sandwich generation; this is not the case in Germany and Italy.

The remainder of this report looks at demographic shifts in the U.S., Germany and Italy and family support for younger and older generations. Chapter 1 examines the age structures in the three countries and the financial profiles of the younger and older generations. Chapter 2 looks at public attitudes about the type of intergenerational support families have a responsibility to provide. Chapter 3 explores the experiences of American, German and Italian adults ages 65 and older, including what they see as advantages and disadvantages of getting old. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on people’s personal experiences caring for aging parents and helping adult children. And Chapter 6 examines the frequency and modes of communication across generations.

Other Key Findings

In the three countries surveyed, more say that helping an aging parent or an adult child is rewarding than say it is stressful. More than eight-in-ten adults who are providing help to a parent age 65 or older in the U.S. (88%), Italy (88%) and Germany (84%) say that doing so is rewarding, while about a third or less in each country find it stressful. Similarly, among those who are helping their grown children, 91% in Italy, 89% in the U.S. and 86% in Germany say that it is rewarding; 12%, 30% and 15%, respectively, say it is stressful.

Many see upsides to getting older. More than six-in-ten adults ages 65 and older in the U.S., Germany and Italy say they are spending more time with their family and on hobbies as they get older. About half or more also say they are experiencing less stress.

Older adults who are married are more likely than those who are not currently married to say they are very satisfied with their family life. This is the case among adults ages 65 and older in the three countries surveyed, but it is particularly pronounced in Italy and Germany, where older adults who are married are about twice as likely as those who aren’t to say they are very satisfied with their family life (50% vs. 26% in Italy and 70% vs. 35% in Germany).

Nearly half of Italians say an adult child is living with them in their home for most of the year. Among Italians ages 50 to 64, six-in-ten say this is the case. In contrast, 30% of Americans and 27% of Germans in the same age group say an adult child – or possibly more than one – lives with them.

Seven-in-ten Italians say they are in contact at least once a day with their adult children who don’t live with them. Fewer in the U.S. (46%) and Germany (32%) say this is the case. Among those who say they are contact with their children once a month or more frequently, Americans are more likely than Germans and Italians to use text messages, email and Facebook or other social networking sites to stay in touch.

Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/05/21/family-support-in-graying-societies/?utm_source=Pew+Research+Center&utm_campaign=7c82ac7c18-Weekly_May_21_20155_21_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3e953b9b70-7c82ac7c18-399485421

SUMMARY OF POLLS

MENA

CSR initiatives can boost UAE companies' performance

New YouGov findings reveal that around three-quarters of residents in the UAE are more likely to purchase from companies that actively contribute to the community. (YouGov Siraj)

May 2015

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Zimbabwe’s opposition distrusted, does not offer viable policy options

Trust in political opposition parties in Zimbabwe is considerably low, with just over one third of the adult population asserting that they trust opposition political parties. This is according to the results of the most recent Afrobarometer public opinion survey. (Afrobarometer)

May 21, 2015

EAST EUROPE

Ukrainians Deeply Concerned Over Corruption; Remain Committed to Europe and Democracy

A new IRI municipal poll conducted in Ukraine found an overwhelming majority of citizens reporting that corruption and nepotism were serious problems impacting their daily lives. Importantly, despite their concerns over corruption and the economy, Ukrainians also showed their strong support for the country’s decision to align more closely with Europe and the West. (IRI)

May 19, 2015

WEST EUROPE

UK: Continued public support for RAF air strikes, but many worry ISIS is winning

Six in ten approve of the anti-ISIS air campaign, but hardly anyone thinks the terror group is losing its grip and most would back increased commitment. (YouGov)

May 23, 2015

UK: Public opposition to fracking grows

With David Cameron’s new all-Conservative cabinet now in place and Parliament back in session, much of Westminster’s attention will once again turn back to governing. One major issue facing the next Parliament is Britain’s future with fracking, the controversial drilling technique credited with the recent boom in US shale oil and gas drilling. The Conservative party has shown support for the use of fracking, but it faces opposition from local communities and environmental groups. (YouGov)

May 19, 2015

NORTH AMERICA

Obama Favorable Rating Up, Best Since September 2013

Americans' favorable ratings of President Barack Obama now stand at 53%, up four points from March. This comes after a year in which these ratings were mostly below 50% and marks the president's highest score since September 2013. (Gallup USA)

May 21, 2015

On Social Ideology, the Left Catches Up to the Right

Thirty-one percent of Americans describe their views on social issues as generally liberal, matching the percentage who identify as social conservatives for the first time in Gallup records dating back to 1999. (Gallup USA)

May 22, 2015

Negative Views of New Congress Cross Party Lines

The new Republican-led Congress is drawing harsh reviews from the public – including most Republicans. Just 23% of Americans say congressional Republicans are keeping the promises they made during last fall’s campaign, while 65% say they are not. (Pew Research Center)

May 21, 2015

Republicans’ Early Views of GOP Field More Positive Than in 2012, 2008 Campaigns

From the start, the Republican presidential field for 2016 has been much more crowded than the Democratic field. But voters in each party have similar views of the quality of their party’s candidates. (Pew Research Center)

May 19, 2015

In U.S., Economic Confidence Index Drops Slightly to -7

Gallup's Economic Confidence Index dropped slightly to -7 for the week ending May 17, 2015. There have been minor fluctuations in economic confidence in the last three weeks, but from a longer-range perspective, the key finding is that Americans' confidence in the economy remains depressed -- down from the highs it had reached in the period between late December and April. (Gallup USA)

May 19, 2015

The Benefits of Pre-Surgery Education

To customers, feelings are facts. When the customers are hospital patients receiving medical device implants, their emotions are influenced by both the outcomes healthcare providers and medical device companies deliver and by how these outcomes compare with patients' expectations. Patient education is the primary way to manage these expectations. (Gallup USA)

May 20, 2015

For Patients, Pre-Surgery Education Is Lacking

When it comes to pre-surgery education for patients, healthcare leaders have their work cut out for them. But it's work worth doing. The positive relationship between patient education and post-surgery outcomes has significant implications for patients, healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers. (Gallup USA)

May 21, 2015

Americans Still Spending More, Still Not on What They Want

A majority of Americans, 55%, say they are spending more than they did last year on groceries, the area in which Americans continually report spending more. (Gallup USA)

May 21, 2015

Canadians evenly divided on release of Omar Khadr

More than a dozen years after he allegedly killed an American soldier in Afghanistan, there is little consensus among Canadians in how they view Omar Khadr, or in what they think about an Alberta judge’s decision to release him on bail while he waits to appeal his U.S. Military conviction. (Angus Reid)

May 25, 2015

LATIN AMERICA

Eight out of ten Brazilians consider themselves religious

In Brazil, eight in ten (79%) people say they are religious people. This is shown by research Barometer Global Optimism, made by IBOPE Intelligence in partnership with the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN), held in 65 countries with 63,898 respondents.Those who do not consider themselves religious totaling 16% of the population and another 2% claim to be atheists. (Ibope)

May 19, 2015

AUSTRALASIA

White out: Aussies opt for fresh over long-lasting milk

Although UHT/long life milk is widely consumed across Europe and Asia, it is yet to take off in Australia, where the prevailing attitude appears to be ‘fresh is best’. Recent findings from Roy Morgan Research show that seven out of every 10 Australians 14+ (or 13.6 million people) drink fresh milk in an average seven days, while fewer than two in 10 (2.9 million people) drink the long-life/UHT variety. (Roy Morgan)

May 20, 2015

On your bike! Cycling participation picks up speed

As anyone who drives a car would have noticed, the number of cyclists on Australian roads has sky-rocketed in the past decade. Whereas 13% of the population (or 2.1 million people) cycled regularly or occasionally in 2005, the latest findings from Roy Morgan Research show that this has now reached 19% (or 3.7 million people). Love them or loathe them, there’s no escaping them — especially in WA, cycling’s heartland…(Roy Morgan)

May 20, 2015

MULTI-COUNTRY SURVEYS

Family Support in Graying Societies

May 21, 2015

Job Market Optimism Up Sharply in Northern America, Europe

Although global job prospects remained glum in 2014, slightly more than one in three adults worldwide (36%) said it was a "good time" to find a job in their communities, which is up two percentage points from the previous year. Optimism was highest in Northern America (51%) and lowest in the European Union (25%). Both regions experienced the largest year-over-year improvements in the world. (Gallup USA)

May 21, 2015

MENA

381-43-1.

CSR initiatives can boost UAE companies' performance

New YouGov findings reveal that around three-quarters of residents in the UAE are more likely to purchase from companies that actively contribute to the community.

The research, commissioned by social enterprise Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3), aimed to uncover how much Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs are influencing UAE residents’ consumer behaviour, and explore the impact that these programs have among employees. The results show that 72% of the UAE residents surveyed are more likely to buy products from enterprises that support social and environmental causes.

The findings also illustrate the effect CSR initiatives have on employee retention. A total of 67% of employed UAE residents interviewed say they are more likely to continue working for companies that allow them to volunteer more during working hours.

Commenting on the results, C3 Co-Founder and CEO, Medea Nocentini, declared being "grateful to YouGov for having proved with statistically significant data what CSR practitioners and social entrepreneurs have assumed and sensed in their daily activities: positive contributions to the community make business sense. At C3 we believe that measuring impact of community-driven initiatives on society as well as on business organizations’ bottom line is paramount to drive business responsibility of both corporations and entrepreneurs."

For YouGov’s UAE Managing Director, Kailash Nagdev, companies can benefit from this research. "We are delighted to have conducted this study to help shed more light on perceptions of social enterprise in the UAE. The findings illustrate there is huge scope for businesses to support worthwhile causes in the region, and in turn that company giving will help drive company success", he said.

Since promoting social entrepreneurship and guiding emerging social entrepreneurs is C3's purpose, YouGov also interviewed residents about the causes they care most about, including which causes emirates residents would like to volunteer for and donate to.

The full study results will be presented by C3 and YouGov at the 12th annual CSR Summit, on May 20. The summit is being organised by world-renowned knowledge provider, Informa and will take place at The Address Hotel, Dubai Marina.

Research for this study was conducted using YouGov's fast-paced Omnibus online research service amongst 993 residents in the UAE between 2 and 10 February 2015. Data is broadly representative of the online population in the UAE.

Source: http://research.mena.yougov.com/en/news/2015/05/13/csr-initiatives-can-boost-uae-companies-performanc/

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

381-43-2.

Zimbabwe’s opposition distrusted, does not offer viable policy options

May 21, 2015

The reasons for this difference in trust in the ruling party versus opposition parties in Zimbabwe are underpinned by perceptions of their economic and development policies, the honesty or integrity of party leaders and in the experience of party leaders. Furthermore, respondents believe that the ruling party is better equipped to address the problems bedevilling the country; such as; fighting corruption, controlling prices, creating jobs and improving health.

However, opinion concerning whether Zimbabwe’s political opposition presents a viable alternative vision and plan for the country was divided. This data presents itself in the aftermath of the July 2013 elections and at a time when the country is reeling under continuous economic deterioration. The political and economic state of affairs in Zimbabwe highlights the need for a viable and credible opposition.

Key findings

 Only 34% of the adult Zimbabwean population trusts opposition political parties; however this trust varies by location.

 Zimbabweans think that variance in economic and development policies (29%), the honesty or integrity of party leaders (16%) and the experience of party leaders (15%) are the key features that distinguish the performance of the ruling party (ZANU-PF) and opposition parties in the country.

 Almost six in 10 respondents (57%) think that the ruling party is the most able to implement price controls, compared to only 24% who believe that the opposition is best able to deal with this matter. On job creation, a majority (51%) believes that the ruling party remains most able to deliver, in contrast to 30% who think that the opposition parties would be better able to facilitate job creation. On improving basic health services, 57% of adult citizens place faith in the ruling party to deal with this issue, compared to a mere quarter of respondents (25%) who believe that opposition political parties can successfully deal with this task. A similar observation is made with respect to fighting corruption. Half of the respondents (50%) maintain the view that ZANU-PF is best able to combat corruption, while 25% were of the opinion that opposition political parties could do a better job of this.

 Close to two-fifths (36%) of the Zimbabwe’s voting population believe that opposition political parties present a viable alternative vision and plan for the country, while a similar proportion does not (see figure 2).

 Concerning the transfer of political power and elections, almost 7 in 10 Zimbabweans (68%) believe that once an election is over, opposition parties and politicians should accept defeat and cooperate with government to help it develop the country. This is in contrast with 26% who think that after losing an election, the role of opposition parties should be to monitor and be critical of the government in order to hold it accountable.

Afrobarometer

Afrobarometer is an African-led, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across more than 30 countries in Africa. Five rounds of surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2013, and Round 6 surveys are currently under way (2014-2015). Afrobarometer conducts face-to face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples of between 1,200 and 2,400 respondents.

The Afrobarometer team in Zimbabwe, led by Mass Public Opinion institute, interviewed 2,400 adult Zimbabweans in November 2014. A sample of this size yields results with a margin of error of +/-2% at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys have been conducted in Zimbabwe in 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Source: http://afrobarometer.org/sites/default/files/press-release/zimbabwe/zim_r6_pr_opposition_parties.pdf

EAST EUROPE

381-43-3.

Ukrainians Deeply Concerned Over Corruption; Remain Committed to Europe and Democracy

First-Ever IRI Ukraine National Municipal Poll:

MAY 19, 2015

Kyiv, Ukraine – A new IRI municipal poll conducted in Ukraine found an overwhelming majority of citizens reporting that corruption and nepotism were serious problems impacting their daily lives. Importantly, despite their concerns over corruption and the economy, Ukrainians also showed their strong support for the country’s decision to align more closely with Europe and the West.

Poll Offers Unprecedented Window on Local Governance and Citizen Attitudes
IRI’s poll, the first-ever national municipal survey, was conducted in all 22 regional capitals of Ukraine not under the control of Russian or Russian-backed forces. It utilized an extensive sample size of more than 17,000 respondents—800 in each city surveyed—and was designed to ascertain views of local government, municipal services and a wide range of local issues.

“Ukraine is at crossroads in its democratic development,” said Stephen B. Nix, IRI’s regional director for Eurasia. “This new survey lays out the challenges facing communities across the country, and provides tools for citizens and leaders to chart a new course.”

Ukrainians Strongly Concerned About Corruption and Nepotism
Nationwide, 87 percent of Ukrainians surveyed said that corruption was a significant or somewhat significant problem for their city. Eighty-three percent pointed to nepotism as a significant or somewhat significant problem.

Despite these obviously troubling numbers, IRI said it also sees signs of hope for a democratic renewal. “The Ukrainian government and donor community should be encouraged that Ukrainians are willing to acknowledge that corruption is a big problem, and yet they also feel pride in their communities and are quick to point to reforms and programs that are working,” said Nix.

Several cities have already made great strides in improving the transparency and quality of local services. In Ternopil and Khmelnytsky, for example, more than half of the residents felt that they have good access to their local authorities. Residents of Kharkiv and Vinnitsya were also pleased with their cities’ local transportation and infrastructure. In Chernivtsi, nearly half of all residents surveyed felt that they had both an accessible local city budget and satisfactory information on proposed or current legislation from their city council.

“Clearly, there is a long way to go for Ukrainians to believe that their leaders have fulfilled the promise of the EuroMaidan movement,” said Nix. “But as we have discussed survey results with community leaders, we have heard a renewed commitment to tackling corruption and increasing citizen involvement. At IRI, we stand ready to work with these and future leaders to build stronger services with increased transparency and accountability.”

Ukrainians Committed to Move their Country towards the West
The IRI survey also showed strong support for European integration and a clear preference for the European Union (EU) over the Russian-led Customs Union in each city polled. Although support for the EU was highest in western and central Ukrainian cities, a plurality of respondents in all regions—including the east and south—support EU membership over Customs Union membership. The survey also showed strong support for membership in NATO across the country.

Nix said that these strong numbers, in the face of both military aggression in eastern Ukraine and a challenging economic situation, show that citizens are resolved to see that greater democracy and market-based economic policy come to Ukraine.

Ukrainians Need to Increase Citizen Participation in Governance
A majority of respondents in all but one city surveyed believed that citizen participation in community events, such as public hearings and parent meetings at schools, was important. However, IRI’s data also demonstrated that current participation in such events was low, with respondents saying that they have participated in single digits in all 22 cities.

“It’s important that leaders from all parts of Ukrainian life, from government to civil society, encourage citizens to take charge of their own future,” said Nix. “Citizens need to embrace their civic responsibilities if they want to see change. Waiting for government to address every problem isn’t the right answer.”

Nix said that civic education would be a key part of IRI’s work in coming months.

Description: http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/2015-05-19_first-ever_iri_ukraine_national_municipal_poll.png

Methodology
The poll was conducted in 22 Ukrainian cities (Kyiv and all regional centers, except Donetsk, Luhansk and Simferopol) from March 2-20, 2015, with a randomly selected sample of 17,600 permanent residents of Ukraine aged 18 years and older who are eligible to vote. The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 3.5 percent, and the response rate was 58 percent.

The survey was conducted by Rating Group Ukraine, in partnership with Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization. The survey was funded by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.

Source: http://www.iri.org/resource/first-ever-iri-ukraine-national-municipal-poll-ukrainians-deeply-concerned-over-corruption

WEST EUROPE

381-43-4.

UK: Continued public support for RAF air strikes, but many worry ISIS is winning

May 23, 2015

Six in ten approve of the anti-ISIS air campaign, but hardly anyone thinks the terror group is losing its grip and most would back increased commitment

Days after an ISIS leader was killed in a risky US special forces raid, the terror group secured a serious of important strategic and symbolic victories in Iraq and Syria. The fall of Iraq’s Ramadi and Syria’s Palmyra has stoked concerns about US anti-ISIS strategy, which relies on local ground forces backed by air strikes from the US-led coalition. Britain is among the coalition partners, and a recent report revealed that the RAF had dropped over 200 bombs and missiles on ISIS targets in Iraq, though this makes up only a “fraction” of the number of US airstrikes.

Description: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2015-05-22/isis1.png YouGov has tracked public opinion on UK involvement in the air campaign against ISIS since last summer. In the latest survey, 59% approve of the RAF participation in the air strikes and only 15% disapprove, marking little change from October. 26% are undecided. At 15%, disapproval is at an all-time low.

The RAF jets carried out their first combat missions in Iraq in late September 2014. Support for air strikes increased dramatically after the beheading of several Western journalists and aid workers by ISIS, including Briton David Haines.

The majority, 55%, would also favor an increased commitment by Britain, similar to findings in a February YouGov poll. Only 19% would be opposed.

WINNING OR LOSING?

Description: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2015-05-22/isis2.png The wide support for greater involvement may be rooted in anxieties about the current campaign: half the public (50%) believe ISIS is more powerful than they were 6 months ago. Only 5% think the terror group’s capabilities have been degraded, while a third (32%) think little has changed. The survey was conducted after the fall of Ramadi, but before it was reported that ISIS had gained control of Palmyra and a key Syria-Iraq border crossing.

Those who want increased UK commitment to defeating the terror group, which now controls vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, might also be unsure about the state of Britain’scurrent involvement.

YouGov’s latest survey also asked respondents whether, to their knowledge, the RAF is currently taking part in air strike operations against Iraq. More say yes (33%) than no (18%), but by far the largest group – 49% – are unsure.

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/05/23/public-back-raf-air-strikes-worry-isis-winning/

381-43-5.

UK: Public opposition to fracking grows

May 19, 2015

In 2013, more favoured than opposed fracking in Britain. Since then, public sentiment has reversed

$Description: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2015-05-19/fracking1-2.png$ YouGov’s latest research shows that fracking proponents may be facing an increasingly sceptical public. A new survey conducted for the Sunday Times shows that, provided with a description of how the process works as well as some of its potential benefits and risks, opinions now lean against the use of fracking in Britain. 43% say shale gas extraction should not happen in the country while a third think it should.

This suggests an insignificant shift against fracking since January but a much larger change from surveys in previous years, when as many as 44% of British people supported the use of fracking and only 29% were opposed. Since 2013, the issue has risen in profile and some MPs have called for a fracking ban.

The latest survey also asked respondents how they would feel about fracking in their own area, which has been met with particular opposition in the past. This continues to be the case, with 49% opposed to fracking in “a town or village near you” and 27% in support. Respondents remain on balance opposed, 44% to 32%, even if £1,000,000 is paid to the local council, and are even slightly opposed, 40% to 36%, when the sum rises to £10,000,000.

REALLY GREEN?

The new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd, has been described as “really green and no-nonsense”. The new poll suggests the public also remain broadly sympathetic to some “green” concerns, especially relating to climate change.

Only 12% are “most supportive” of using fossil fuels to meet Britain’s future energy generation needs, while 46% prefer renewable energy sources – though 24% back nuclear power, which has been opposed by some environmentalists.

$Description: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2015-05-19/fracking2.png$ 58% say the government should encourage the building of onshore wind farms, but only 37% want the government backing onshore wind. Rudd has indicated the Conservative party will withdraw government subsidies for onshore wind farms.

59% believe in man-made climate change, consistent with past surveys and even a modest increase from 2013, when around half believed. Half the public (50%) and the majority of adults under-40 also believe the government should do more to try and tackle climate change, against a third who say it’s already doing enough (21%) or too much (13%).

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/05/19/opposition-fracking-britain-grows/

NORTH AMERICA

381-43-6.

Obama Favorable Rating Up, Best Since September 2013

May 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans' favorable ratings of President Barack Obama now stand at 53%, up four points from March. This comes after a year in which these ratings were mostly below 50% and marks the president's highest score since September 2013.

Description: Trend: Personal Favorability Ratings of President Barack Obama

A president's favorable ratings are distinct from approval of his performance; job approval ratings generally tend to be lower. For the Obama presidency, Gallup trends show the two measures have changed largely in tandem. As Obama's approval rating has rebounded nine percentage points from a low of 37% last fall, his favorable rating has increased 11 points from 42%. The resulting seven-point gap between Obama's current 46% approval rating and his 53% favorable rating is slightly larger than the average five-point gap between these ratings for Obama since he took office.

The gap between job approval and favorable ratings over the course of Obama's presidency has been as wide as eight points, and as narrow as two points. The latter took place just after Obama was re-elected, in November 2012, when his favorable rating was 58% and his job approval was 56%.

Description: Trend: Personal Favorable Ratings vs. Job Approval of President Obama

Independents' Favorable Ratings of Obama Surge Since Last Fall

Obama's favorable rating in the May 6-10 poll reflects increases compared with November 2014 among Democrats (90%) and independents (52%). Republicans, on the other hand, continue to be chilly toward the president; their favorable ratings of Obama have been largely flat at low levels since last fall.

Description: Recent Trend: Favorable Ratings of Barack Obama, by Party -- April 2014-May 2015

Bottom Line

Americans in general are more inclined to give Obama a favorable personal rating than they are to approve of the job he is doing. Obama's favorable and job approval ratings have each improved this year, and his current 53% favorable rating is the highest since late 2013.

The recent increase in how Americans view Obama, and likely also his performance, might have something to do with his attempts to bridge various communities in recent months -- such as police and racial minorities; Cuba and the U.S.; and members of Congress from both parties who are pro- and anti-trade.

As he serves out his seventh year in office, Obama's favorability is higher than it was in his sixth year, when he received a record-low rating after the 2014 midterm elections. Excluding his first year, when his favorable ratings averaged 62%, his favorables have been fairly steady -- as have his job approval ratings.

Depending on how the final 20 months of his presidency go, Obama's relatively buoyant favorability might stand in stark contrast to that of his two predecessors -- President Bill Clinton, whose yearly averages peaked in his fifth year and dipped thereafter; and President George W. Bush, whose favorable ratings spiked early on in his presidency and descended rapidly in his second term.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted May 6-10, 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 1,024 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/183362/obama-favorable-rating-best-september-2013.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

381-43-7.

On Social Ideology, the Left Catches Up to the Right

May 22, 2015

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Thirty-one percent of Americans describe their views on social issues as generally liberal, matching the percentage who identify as social conservatives for the first time in Gallup records dating back to 1999.

Description: Trend: Americans' Self-Description of Views on Social Issues

Gallup first asked Americans to describe their views on social issues in 1999, and has repeated the question at least annually since 2001. The broad trend has been toward a shrinking conservative advantage, although that was temporarily interrupted during the first two years of Barack Obama's presidency. Since then, the conservative advantage continued to diminish until it was wiped out this year.

The newfound parity on social ideology is a result of changes in the way both Democrats and Republicans describe their social views. The May 6-10 Gallup poll finds a new high of 53% of Democrats, including Democratic-leaning independents, describing their views on social issues as liberal.

Description: Trend: Ideological Identification on Social Issues, Democrats and Democratic Leaners, 2001-2015

Democrats were more likely to describe their views on social issues as moderate rather than liberal from 2001 to 2005. Since then, socially liberal Democrats have outnumbered socially moderate Democrats in all but one year.

Meanwhile, the 53% of Republicans and Republican leaners saying their views on social issues are conservative is the lowest in Gallup's trend. The drop in Republicans' self-identified social conservatism has been accompanied by an increase in moderate identification, to 34%, while the percentage identifying as socially liberal has been static near 10%.

Description: Trend: Ideological Identification on Social Issues, Republicans and Republican Leaners, 2001-2015

These trends echo the pattern in Gallup's overall ideology measure, which dates back to 1992 and shows increasing liberal identification in recent years. As with the social ideology measure, the longer-term shifts are mainly a result of increasing numbers of Democrats describing their views as liberal rather than moderate. That may reflect Democrats feeling more comfortable in describing themselves as liberal than they were in the past, as much as a more leftward shift in Democrats' attitudes on political, economic and social issues.

Conservatives Still Lead Liberals on Economic Issues

In contrast to the way Americans describe their views on social issues, they still by a wide margin, 39% to 19%, describe their views on economic issues as conservative rather than liberal. However, as on social ideology, the gap between conservatives and liberals has been shrinking and is lower today than at any point since 1999, with the 39% saying they are economically conservative the lowest to date.

Description: Trend: Americans' Self-Description of Views on Economic Issues

Currently, 64% of Republicans identify as conservative economically, which is down from 70% the previous two years and roughly 75% in the early years of the Obama presidency. During George W. Bush's administration, Republicans were less likely to say they were economic conservatives, with as few as 58% doing so in 2004 and 2005. The trends suggest Republicans' willingness to identify as economic conservatives, or economic moderates, is influenced by the party of the president in office, and perhaps the types of financial policies the presidential administration is pursuing at the time.

Description: Trend: Ideological Identification on Economic Issues, Republicans and Republican Leaners, 2001-2015

Democrats are also contributing to the trend in lower economic conservative identification. While the plurality of Democrats have consistently said they are economically moderate, Democrats have been more likely to identify as economic liberals than as economic conservatives since 2007. The last two years, there has been a 15-percentage-point gap in liberal versus conservative identification among Democrats on economic matters.

Description: Trend: Ideological Identification on Economic Issues, Democrats and Democratic Leaners, 2001-2015

Implications

Americans' growing social liberalism is evident not only in how they describe their views on social issues but also in changes in specific attitudes, such as increased support for same-sex marriage and legalizing marijuana. These longer-term trends may be attributable to changing attitudes among Americans of all ages, but they also may be a result of population changes, with younger, more liberal Americans entering adulthood while older, more conservative adults pass on. Gallup found evidence that population replacement is a factor in explaining changes in overall ideology using an analysis of birth cohorts over time.

The 2016 presidential election will thus be contested in a more socially liberal electorate -- and a less economically conservative one -- than was true of prior elections. Economically and socially conservative candidates may still appeal to the Republican Party base in the primaries, but it may be more important now than in the past for the GOP nominee to be a bit less conservative on social issues in order to appeal to the broader general electorate.

And while Americans are less economically conservative than in the past, economic conservatives still outnumber economic liberals by about 2-to-1. As a result, Democrats must be careful not to nominate a candidate who is viewed as too liberal on economic matters if their party hopes to hold the White House beyond 2016.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted May 6-10, 2015, with a random sample of 1,024 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/183386/social-ideology-left-catches-right.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

381-43-8.

Negative Views of New Congress Cross Party Lines

Republicans Want GOP Leaders to Challenge Obama More Often

May 21, 2015

Nearly four-in-ten (37%) say the new Congress has accomplished less than they expected, while 4% say it has accomplished more than expected. About half (53%) say its accomplishments are in line with what they expected.

On both measures, the public’s views are far more negative than they were of the Democratic-led Congress in March 2007, after the Democrats regained control of both chambers following several years of Republican control. Views are also much more negative than they were in April 1995, shortly after the GOP had gained control of the House and Senate for the first time in four decades.

The new national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted May 12-18 among 2,002 adults, finds that just 22% approve of the job performance of Republican congressional leaders, little changed since the summer of 2011. Ratings for Democratic congressional leaders are somewhat better (33% approve).

Unlike after some previous partisan turnovers on Capitol Hill, negative assessments of the new Congress now cross party lines. Today, just 41% of Republicans approve of the job their party’s leaders in Congress are doing. By comparison, in April 2011, 60% of Republicans approved of GOP leaders’ job performance and in April 1995, 78% approved of GOP leadership’s policies and proposals.

And just 37% of Republicans say their party’s leaders are keeping their campaign promises, while 53% say they are not. In 2011, after the party won its House majority, 54% said GOP leaders were keeping promises. And in April 1995 — as the Republican-led Congress hit the 100-day milestone — fully 80% of Republicans said this.

Democrats were also relatively upbeat about their party’s leaders at the 100-day mark in 2007, when 60% said Democratic leaders were keeping their campaign promises.

Currently, Republicans (36%) are about as likely as Democrats (38%) or independents (38%) to say Congress is accomplishing less than they expected.

To be sure, public views of Congress overall have been negative for several years, since well before Republicans won control of the Senate last fall or gained control of the House in January 2011. In March, 22% expressed a favorable opinion of Congress; in March 2010, when Democrats still controlled Congress, just 26% had a favorable view.

The survey finds deep differences in how Republicans and Democrats want President Obama and GOP leaders to deal with issues. Fully 75% of Republicans want GOP leaders to challenge Obama more often; just 15% say they are handling relations with the president about right and 7% say GOP leaders should go along with Obama more often.

Fewer Democrats (49%) want Obama to challenge Republicans more often; 33% say he is handling this about right while 11% want him to go along with GOP leaders more often.

The survey also finds:

Democrats more positive about party’s handling of issues. About six-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (62%) say the Democratic Party is doing a good job representing their views on same-sex marriage, 51% say the same about the party’s stance on immigration and 47% think the party does well in representing their views on government spending.

Republicans and Republican leaners are more critical of their party on all three issues: 35% say it does well in representing their views on government spending, 34% on illegal immigration and 29% on same-sex marriage.

Obama job approval little changed. Currently, 46% approve of Obama’s job performance, while 48% disapprove. Obama’s job approval is little changed over the course of 2015: In January, 47% approved and 48% disapproved.

More say jobs are available locally. About three-in-ten Americans (27%) rate national economic conditions as excellent or good, while 73% say they are only fair (43%) or poor (30%). Economic attitudes also are little changed since the start of the year, but positive views have increased 10 points since April 2014. Over the same period, the percentage saying plenty of jobs are available locally has risen 13 points (from 27% to 40%).

Views of Congressional Leaders

Public evaluations of the congressional leadership of both parties remain negative. Today, just a third (33%) say they approve of the job Democratic leaders are doing, while even fewer (22%) say they approve of GOP Congressional leadership.

Ratings for the Congressional leadership of both parties have been relatively stable over the past few years. Though the job approval ratings of both GOP and Democratic leadership rose slightly earlier this year, current ratings are now on par with attitudes last spring.

While the overall ratings of Republican congressional leaders over the last few months have dropped a modest four points, Republican ratings of their own party’s leadership have moved in a significantly negative direction over the first few months of a GOP-controlled Congress.

Today, more Republicans say they disapprove (55%) than approve (41%) of the Republican congressional leadership’s job performance. In February, Republican evaluations were more positive (50% of Republicans approved of the GOP leadership’s job performance, 44% disapproved). And this shift in opinion is primarily seen among conservative Republicans: 54% approved of GOP congressional leaders’ job performance in February, today just 41% approve. By contrast, Democratic views of their party’s congressional leadership are substantially more positive and are little changed over this time. Currently 60% of Democrats approve of the job performance of Democratic leaders, while 35% disapprove.

Independent views of the two parties largely track those of the overall public: Just 19% approve of GOP leaders’ job performance, while 27% approve of Democratic congressional leadership.

Partisans Rate Their Parties on Current Issues

On a set of three current issues – government spending, illegal immigration and same-sex marriage – rank-and-file Republicans are much more critical of how their party has dealt with each than Democrats are of their own party’s performance.

Fewer than four-in-ten Republicans and Republican leaners say the Republican Party is doing a good job representing their views on the issues of government spending (35%), illegal immigration (34%) and same-sex marriage (29%). On all three issues, majorities of Republicans say their party is not doing a good job representing their views. And there is little difference in these ratings between conservative Republicans and moderate and liberal Republicans.

Republican ratings of their party on these issues are no better than they were in a September 2014 survey, prior to the GOP winning control of the Senate in the November midterm elections.

By contrast, Democrats are more positive about their own party’s performance on these three issues than are Republicans. About six-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (62%) say the Democratic Party is doing a good job representing their views on same-sex marriage, while just 30% say they are not doing a good job. Views are more mixed when it comes to illegal immigration and government spending. Overall, 51% of Democrats say their party is doing a good job on the issue of illegal immigration, compared with 43% who say they are not doing a good job. On the issue of government spending, as many Democrats say their party is doing a good job representing their views on the issue (47%) as say it is not doing a good job (47%). Democratic views have shown little change on these measures since the questions were last asked in September 2014.

Little Change in Overall Views of Obama

Barack Obama’s overall approval ratings have been stable over the course of 2015. Currently about as many say they approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president as say they disapprove of his job performance (46% vs. 48%).

Similar to his overall approval ratings, the public is about evenly divided in its ratings of how Obama is handling race relations (48% approve, 44% disapprove) and the threat of terrorism (47% approve, 46% disapprove).

But on several other key policy areas, there is more disapproval than approval of Obama’s performance. Ratings of Obama’s performance on the economy remain relatively unchanged over the past year: 52% disapprove, while 43% approve.

And a majority of Americans continue to disapprove (56%) of how the president is handling immigration policy.

Obama’s ratings on foreign policy and his handling of Iran are similarly in negative territory. And amid debate over the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade proposal, 39% of respondents say they approve of Obama’s handling of international trade, while 44% say they disapprove; 17% do not offer a rating of his performance on trade.

Obama’s Ratings on Race Relations Improve

Obama’s handling of race relations is currently one of his better ratings: 48% approve, while 44% disapprove. This is up eight points from December, in a poll conducted in the immediate wake of grand jury decisions not to charge police officers in the deaths of African Americans in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City and the associated protests. Public reactions to how the president is handling race relations are now equal to where they were in August (48% approved).

Obama’s improved rating is seen across most political and demographic groups. About seven-in-ten blacks (71%) now approve of his efforts on race relations, though he ended the year with 57% of blacks giving him a positive rating and 33% a negative one. His marks among blacks are now on par with those of August.

The views of whites are more mixed, with 43% today approving of Obama’s handling of race relations and half (50%) disapproving. This is an improvement from December when most gave him a negative rating (33% approved, 57% disapproved).

On balance, Hispanics remain positive toward Obama on this issue: 53% now approve of his handling of race relations and 37% disapprove. Hispanic ratings of Obama on this issue have remained relatively stable since last August.

Democrats continue to rate Obama highly for his handling of race relations. About seven-in-ten Democrats (69%) – including 80% of liberal Democrats – approve of how he is handling the issue. As with many policy areas, far more Republicans disapprove (71%) than approve (23%) of how Obama handles race relations. The attitudes of independents mirror those of the public overall.

Views of Job Availability, National Economy

Four-in-ten (40%) currently say there are “plenty of jobs available” in their community, though 53% still see local jobs as difficult to find. The current assessments of job availability continue an upward trend over the last five years and are among the most positive since 2001. In March 2010 — when the unemployment rate was almost 10% — 85% said jobs were difficult to find and just 10% said plenty of jobs were available.

Younger adults and those with some college experience are most likely to be optimistic about job opportunities: 55% of adults 18-29 and 42% of those 30-49 say there are plenty of jobs available, but just 31% of adults 50 and older say the same. Among those with a college degree, 43% say there are plenty of jobs available locally, as do 47% of those with some college experience but who do not have a Bachelor’s degree; by comparison, just 32% of those with a high school degree or less education say there are plenty of jobs available in their community.

Since April of 2014 there has been a 13-percentage point rise in the share of the public saying there are plenty of jobs available in the local communities.

Ratings of the nation’s overall economic conditions have changed little since the start of 2015 after increasing over the past few years.

About one-in-four say the U.S. economy is “excellent” (3%) or “good” (24%). A plurality (43%) continues to rate the economy as “only fair,” while three-in-ten (30%) say it is poor.

Democrats are about twice as likely as Republicans to rate the economy positively. Among Democrats, 36% see conditions as excellent or good and 64% say they are fair or poor; 16% of Republicans say the economy is at least good and 83% say it is fair or poor. And college graduates and higher-income adults are somewhat more positive.

Meanwhile, 53% expect the country’s economic conditions to be the same next year. Somewhat more say the economy will be better (25%) than worse (20%) a year from now. By comparison, many more were optimistic about the future of the economy in the depths of the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009.

Today, people who are positive about the economy are the most likely to predict that it will improve. Among those who say the economy is currently excellent or good, 43% say it will be better in a year and 4% say it will be worse (51% predict the same). By comparison, just 12% of those rating the economy as poor expect improvement and 41% think it will decline over the next year (45% say it will be the same).

As has been the case for the last year, about two-thirds of the public (68%) say that the economy is recovering, but not strongly. Today, about one-in-ten (11%) see a strong economic recovery; roughly two-in-ten (19%) say the economy isn’t recovering at all.

The share saying there is a strong recovery is somewhat lower than it was in January (16% then, 11% today), but remains higher than in April 2014 (when just 6% said the economy was recovering strongly).

Large majorities across partisan lines say there has been a less-than-strong recovery, but those in the GOP are more likely than Democrats to view the situation negatively. One-in-three Republicans (33%) say the economy isn’t recovering at all, compared with 7% of Democrats. On the other hand, more Democrats than Republicans think there is a strong recovery (19% vs. 5%).

Source: http://www.people-press.org/2015/05/21/negative-views-of-new-congress-cross-party-lines/?utm_source=Pew+Research+Center&utm_campaign=7c82ac7c18-Weekly_May_21_20155_21_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3e953b9b70-7c82ac7c18-399485421

381-43-9.

Republicans’ Early Views of GOP Field More Positive Than in 2012, 2008 Campaigns

May 19, 2015

Growing Interest in 2016 Campaign

Nearly six-in-ten (57%) Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say they have an excellent or good impression of their party’s presidential candidates. That compares with 54% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters who have positive impressions of the Democratic Party’s candidates.

Republicans are more positive about the GOP field than they were at nearly comparable points in the past two presidential campaigns. In May 2011, 44% of Republicans viewed the field of GOP candidates as excellent or good. In September 2007, 50% gave the presidential candidates positive marks.

Democrats are less positive about the current group of candidates than they were in September 2007, at a somewhat later point in the 2008 campaign. At that time, 64% said the Democratic candidates as a group were excellent or good. Throughout the fall of 2007 and early 2008, Democrats consistently expressed more positive views about their party’s candidates than Republicans did about theirs.

In September 2003, just 44% of Democrats and Democratic leaners gave positive ratings to their party’s field of candidates. At that time, the Democrats were challenging an incumbent president, as were the Republicans in 2011.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted May 12-18 among 2,002 adults (including 1,497 registered voters), finds increasing interest in the presidential campaign. The share of registered voters who say they are giving at least some thought to the presidential candidates has risen eight points since March, from 58% to 66%. However, just 29% of registered voters say they are giving “a lot” of thought to candidates who may be running for president in 2016.

Interest in the presidential candidates has increased among voters in both parties since March. Currently, 69% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters say they are giving at least some thought to the candidates, up from 61% in March. Among Democrats, 65% are giving a lot or some thought to the candidates, compared with 57% in March.

Voter interest is about the same as it was at a comparable point in the 2008 campaign. In June 2007, 68% of registered voters said they were giving a lot of thought (33%) or some thought (35%) to the presidential candidates in 2008.

The survey finds that Republican voters have generally positive impressions of six GOP declared or likely candidates. Jeb Bush is the best known of those included in the survey, but he also has the highest unfavorable rating: 52% of Republicans and Republican leaners view Bush favorably, while 35% view him unfavorably.

Among other candidates, 54% of Republicans view Mike Huckabee favorably, while 23% view him unfavorably. Rand Paul’s favorable ratings are similar (52% favorable, 24% unfavorable).

About half of Republicans (51%) view Marco Rubio favorably, compared with 20% who have an unfavorable impression; 29% are unable to rate the Florida senator. Scott Walker is viewed favorably by 46%, while 17% rate him unfavorably (36% unable to rate). And 45% view Ted Cruz favorably, compared with 25% who view him unfavorably (30% can’t rate).

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton, the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination, is widely popular with Democrats; 77% of Democrats and Democratic leaners view her favorably.

However, Clinton’s favorable ratings have declined – among the public, as well as Democrats – since last summer. Currently, 49% of the public has a favorable opinion of Clinton, while 47% view her unfavorably. Clinton’s overall favorability rating has fallen nine points from 58% last August. This is Clinton’s lowest favorability mark since the spring of 2008, during her run for the Democratic nomination. (For more on Clinton’s favorable ratings since 1992, seethis interactive).

The decline in Clinton’s favorability since August has come about equally among Democrats and Democratic leaners (from 86% then to 77% today) and Republicans and Republican leaners (from 27% to 17%).

Bill Clinton’s favorable rating has fallen 10 points since 2012. Currently, 58% of the public views Bill Clinton favorably, down from 68% in September of that year. Clinton’s ratings also are at their lowest point since 2008.

Clinton’s favorable ratings continue to be more positive than those of another former president, George W. Bush. Currently, 44% have a favorable opinion of Bush, down seven points from last August, but still higher than his 37% rating shortly before he left office.

Republicans’ Views of GOP Candidates

Conservative Republicans are more familiar with the set of six likely Republican candidates than are moderate or liberal Republicans. In addition to being more familiar with the candidates, conservative Republicans generally offer, on balance, more favorable ratings of the candidates than liberal and moderate Republicans, with the notable exception of ratings for Jeb Bush.

By a 51% to 34% margin, more moderate and liberal Republicans and Republican leaners say they have a favorable than unfavorable view of Jeb Bush, while 15% do not offer a rating. Among conservative Republicans, the balance of opinion is about the same: 54% view Bush favorably, while 37% view him unfavorable and 10% do not offer a rating.

For the five other declared or likely Republican candidates included in the survey, ratings are more positive among conservative than among moderate and liberal Republicans, and this is particularly pronounced in the ratings of Marco Rubio and Scott Walker. For example, by a 60% to 15% margin, more conservative Republicans hold a favorable than unfavorable view of Marco Rubio; 25% cannot offer a rating. Rubio’s ratings among moderate and liberal Republicans are much more mixed (34% favorable, 28% unfavorable), while as many as 38% cannot offer a rating.

Similarly, Scott Walker is viewed much more positively among conservative Republicans (54% favorable, 14% unfavorable, 32% can’t rate) than among moderate and liberal Republicans (32% favorable, 24% unfavorable, 44% can’t rate).

There also are demographic differences in Republicans’ views of these six GOP contenders. Older Republicans and Republican leaners – those 65 and older – give especially positive ratings to Marco Rubio and Scott Walker. By an overwhelming 64%-6% margin, older Republicans hold a favorable view of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker; 29% cannot offer a rating. And Florida Senator Marco Rubio is viewed positively by three-quarters of Republicans 65 and older (75%), while just 11% view him negatively (14% do not offer a rating). Older Republicans also express positive views of Mike Huckabee (52% favorable, 18% unfavorable) and Bush (60% vs. 27%). By contrast, Republicans age 65 and over hold more mixed views of Rand Paul (42% favorable, 35% unfavorable) and Ted Cruz (38% favorable, 25% unfavorable).

Younger Republicans, those under the age of 45, hold mixed views of Jeb Bush: about as many view him favorably (45%) as unfavorably (41%), while 15% cannot offer a rating. On balance, younger Republicans view the five other Republicans included in the survey more favorably than unfavorably.

Ratings of Jeb Bush also lag those of other GOP candidates among Republicans who say they have given a lot of thought to the 2016 election. By two-to-one or more, Republicans and Republican leaners who have thought a lot about 2016 hold more favorable than unfavorable views of Marco Rubio (71%-14%), Scott Walker (65%-15%), Ted Cruz (62%-21%), Rand Paul (63%-24%), and Mike Huckabee (65%-25%). By contrast, views of Jeb Bush are more narrowly positive: 54% view him favorably, while 41% view him unfavorably.

Democrats’ Views of Clinton

Hillary Clinton remains an overwhelmingly popular figure with Democrats. Currently, 77% of Democrats and Democratic leaners view her favorably; that is down slightly from August 2007 (81%), at a somewhat later point in her last presidential race.

Though wide majorities of Democrats across all demographic groups view Clinton positively, her favorability rating is lower among younger Millennials (ages 18-25), who were too young to vote in Clinton’s 2008 race. About two-thirds (65%) of younger Millennial Democrats view Clinton favorably. That compares with 79% of older Millennial Democrats (those ages 26-34). Among older Democratic age cohorts, 82% of Gen Xers, 76% of Boomers and 79% of Silents view Clinton favorably.

As was the case in August 2007, liberal Democrats view Clinton more favorably (81%) than do conservative and moderate Democrats (74%). Unlike eight years ago, there are virtually no gender differences in views of Clinton among Democrats: 78% of Democratic women and 75% of Democratic men view her favorably.

Biden Viewed Less Favorably

Joe Biden’s favorability ratings are now seven points lower than they were in October 2013, with more Americans now saying they have an unfavorable opinion of the vice president (48%) than saying they have a favorable opinion of him (39%); in October 2013, 46% viewed him positively, while 41% viewed him negatively.

While Biden remains considerably more popular among Democrats than Republicans, Republican views of Biden are relatively unchanged over the last few years, while Democratic opinions have become less positive.

Today, 58% of Democrats and Democratic leaners view Biden favorably, down 15 points from October 2013, when nearly three-quarters (73%) did so. Just 17% of Republicans and Republican leaners have a favorable opinion of Biden, a figure that is little changed over the last several years.

Opinion of Past Presidents: Bill Clinton and George W. Bush

Of the two most recent past presidents, Bill Clinton remains a more popular figure than George W. Bush. Today, 58% of Americans view Clinton favorably, while 38% have an unfavorable opinion. George W. Bush, by contrast, is viewed more negatively than positively (44% favorable, 52% unfavorable).

Though views of Bill Clinton remain in positive territory, they have declined 10 points since 2012. In particular, Clinton is now viewed far less favorably by Republicans and Republican leaners than he was in September 2012 (just 28% view him favorably today, down from 43%). And while about eight-in-ten (81%) Democrats and Democratic leaners view the former Democratic president favorably today, his ratings among Democrats were slightly better (88% favorable) in September 2012.

George W. Bush’s ratings have been relatively stable since early 2011. Currently, nearly three-quarters (73%) of Republicans and Republican leaners, along with just 23% of Democrats and Democratic leaners have positive opinions of the former GOP president.

Source: http://www.people-press.org/2015/05/19/republicans-early-views-of-gop-field-more-positive-than-in-2012-2008-campaigns/?utm_source=Pew+Research+Center&utm_campaign=7c82ac7c18-Weekly_May_21_20155_21_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3e953b9b70-7c82ac7c18-399485421

381-43-10.

In U.S., Economic Confidence Index Drops Slightly to -7

May 19, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup's Economic Confidence Index dropped slightly to -7 for the week ending May 17, 2015. There have been minor fluctuations in economic confidence in the last three weeks, but from a longer-range perspective, the key finding is that Americans' confidence in the economy remains depressed -- down from the highs it had reached in the period between late December and April.

Description: Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index -- Weekly Averages Since May 2014

While the Economic Confidence Index was significantly lower as recently as the fall of last year, it broke out of negative territory for the first time in over six years in late December. It remained slightly positive in January and February before losing its forward momentum and beginning its downward slide.

Gallup's Economic Confidence Index is the average of two components: Americans' views of current economic conditions and their perceptions of whether the U.S. economy is getting better or getting worse. The theoretical maximum for the index is +100, if all Americans say the economy is excellent or good and getting better. The theoretical minimum is -100, if all Americans say the economy is poor and getting worse.

The biggest drop this year has been in Americans' views of the future of the economy, as they have moved from a very optimistic position at the end of 2014 and in the first part of this year to a much more negative forecast. Americans' assessment of current conditions has remained somewhat more stable.

Description: Economic Confidence Index Components -- Weekly Averages From May 2014

More specifically, Americans' ratings of the current economy dropped to -4 last week, which ties with two weeks prior to be the lowest found since late December 2014. This was the result of 25% of Americans saying the current economy is "excellent" or "good" and 29% saying it is "poor."

Americans' outlook for the economy was level at -10, similar to the -9 of the week prior. This was the result of 43% of Americans saying they thought the economy is "getting better" and 53% saying it is "getting worse."

Americans' economic confidence has rebounded from the drop of approximately two weeks ago after the U.S. government announced that GDP growth was flat in the first quarter. However, confidence is still not back to where it was in March and April. If anything, it fell back slightly this past week after mostly recovering from the sharper drop in late April/early May. Confidence is also down further from its recent highs at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015, but even the current scores are well above where they were from 2008-2014.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted May 11-17, 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 3,545 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/183308/economic-confidence-index-drops-slightly.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

381-43-11.

The Benefits of Pre-Surgery Education

May 20, 2015

This is the first article in a two-part series.

The education that patients receive before surgery has significant positive effects on surgery outcomes, Gallup's analysis shows. These results include increased overall patient satisfaction, reduced problem incidence and improved quality of life.

The positive relationship between patient education and post-surgery outcomes isn't just good news for patients, it also has significant implications for healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers. For hospitals, reducing the number of problems could directly reduce costly readmissions, while higher patient satisfaction levels could contribute to improved Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey scores and a greater share of incentive payments. For physicians and implant manufacturers, lower problem incidence could directly reduce costly revision surgeries, malpractice lawsuits or both.

Even when healthcare leaders place a high priority on patient education, providing this effectively to patients and managing their expectations is hard work. A good place to start is to understand how pre-surgery education affects outcomes.

Pre-Surgery Education Influences Post-Surgery Outcomes

In a recent study, Gallup researchers asked patients undergoing medical device implantation about three important aspects of pre-surgery education. Patients were asked to rate their levels of agreement with the following statements using a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree):

· I knew what to expect after surgery.

· I was prepared for my experience post-surgery.

· I followed post-surgery instructions, such as rehabilitation or medication.

The analysis showed that each of these aspects of pre-surgery education substantially influenced post-surgery outcomes. Patients who strongly agreed with just one of these statements had significantly higher satisfaction and significantly lower problem incidence compared with patients who did not strongly agree (giving a rating of 1 to 4).

For example, when patients strongly agreed that "I knew what to expect after surgery," 72% were extremely satisfied with the surgery results, and only 8% reported problems following the surgery. When patients did not strongly agree with this item, 39% were extremely satisfied with the surgery results, and 27% reported problems after the surgery.

Description: Pre-Surgery Education Boosts Satisfaction, Reduces Problems Following Surgery

When patients strongly agreed with two or three of these statements, they experienced even greater outcome improvements, such as higher overall satisfaction and lower problem incidence. When patients strongly agreed with just one of the three patient education items, 46% were extremely satisfied with the results, and 27% reported a problem following surgery. When patients strongly agreed with two items, 65% were extremely satisfied with the results, and 13% reported a problem post-surgery. But when patients strongly agreed with all three items, 71% were extremely satisfied with their results, and just 8% reported a problem following surgery.

Description: Better Patient Education Adds Up to Increased Satisfaction, Better Surgical Outcomes

Pre-Surgery Education Affects Patients' Post-Surgery Well-Being

The physical and emotional consequences of surgical outcomes go well beyond the scope of the procedure to affecting patients in five key areas of personal well-being. Gallup and Healthways have identified five essential elements of well-being -- purpose, social, financial, community and physical -- that encompass the most important parts of how people think about and experience their lives and collectively signify a life well-lived.

For each aspect of patient education, patients who strongly agreed with a statement were about twice as likely to be thriving in all five well-being elements as patients who did not strongly agree. When patients strongly agreed that "I knew what to expect after surgery," for example, 10% were thriving in all five well-being elements, compared with 6% of patients who did not strongly agree.

These results suggest that poor surgical outcomes -- regardless of their cause -- have consequences for patients, their friends and families, and their community that are more far-reaching than providers may realize. Taking the time properly and fully educate patients can improve both their physical well-being and all aspects of their life.

Description: Surgery Education Can Increase Satisfaction, Reduce Problems and Boost Well-Being

Taking the time to educate patients before a surgical procedure can have a significant positive effect. Though each of the three key education elements improves outcomes, these elements influence them in different ways. In part two of this series, we'll discuss how healthcare leaders can tailor pre-surgery education to help improve patients' surgical outcomes.

Survey Methods

Results are based on a 2014 medical device Gallup Panel Web and mail study completed by 26,128 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Aug. 5-Sept. 16, 2014. Results of the well-being analysis are a combination of four studies: a 2014 medical device study, a 2014 health experience study, a 2014 well-being study and a 2013 well-being study. The Gallup Panel is a probability-based longitudinal panel of U.S. adults who Gallup selects using random-digit-dial phone interviews that cover landline and cellphones. Gallup also uses address-based sampling methods to recruit Panel members. The Gallup Panel is not an opt-in panel and panel members do not receive incentives for participating. In this study, 2,639 respondents reported that they had medical implants in the last 12 months, which is the total sample for the results reported in this article. For results based on this sample, one can say that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±1.9 percentage points, at the 95% confidence level. Margins of error are higher for subsamples. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/183317/benefits-pre-surgery-education.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

381-43-12.

For Patients, Pre-Surgery Education Is Lacking

May 21, 2015

This is the second article in a two-part series.

When it comes to pre-surgery education for patients, healthcare leaders have their work cut out for them.

But it's work worth doing. The positive relationship between patient education and post-surgery outcomes has significant implications for patients, healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers.

As reported in our earlier article, Gallup researchers asked patients undergoing medical device implantation about three important aspects of pre-surgery education. Patients were asked to rate their level of agreement with the following statements using a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree):

· I knew what to expect after surgery.

· I was prepared for my experience post-surgery.

· I followed post-surgery instructions, such as rehabilitation or medication.

Gallup's analysis showed that each of these aspects of pre-surgery education substantially affected post-surgery outcomes. Patients who strongly agreed with just one of these statements had higher satisfaction and lower problem incidence compared with patients who did not strongly agree (giving a rating of 1 to 4). And when patients strongly agreed with two or three of these statements, they experienced even greater outcomes, including increased overall satisfaction and lower problem incidence.

Patients who strongly agreed with two or more statements also experienced physical and emotional consequences of surgical outcomes that extended well beyond the scope of the procedure to affecting five key areas of personal well-being. Gallup and Healthways have identified five essential elements of well-being -- purpose, social, financial, community and physical -- that encompass the most important parts of how people think about and experience their lives and collectively signify a life well-lived. For each aspect of patient education, patients who strongly agreed with a statement were about twice as likely to be thriving in all five well-being elements as patients who did not strongly agree.

The vital finding that healthcare providers should heed is that taking the time to educate patients before a procedure has significant consequences for patients, their friends and families, and their community. But before healthcare leaders take action to improve patient education and communication, they need to know where the biggest gaps exist in these areas.

Significant Room for Improvement

When Gallup surveyed hospital patients who had received a medical implant, only 37% of respondents strongly agreed with all three aspects of patient education, while 17% strongly agreed with none of them. This finding suggests that there is significant room to improve patients' pre-surgery education. For two of the patient education items ("I knew what to expect after surgery" and "I was prepared for my experience post-surgery") there are sizable gains to be made, with less than half of respondents (46%) strongly agreeing with either of these items.

While all three items improve surgical outcomes, these elements influence them in different ways. Though it's arguably difficult for healthcare providers or device manufacturers to influence patient adherence to post-surgery rehabilitation and medication regimes, Gallup's research indicates that patients take care of their part: The vast majority (78%) strongly agreed that they followed post-surgery instructions. Because less than half of patients strongly agreed with the other two items ("I knew what to expect after surgery" and "I was prepared for my experience post-surgery") Gallup's analysis indicates that tailored pre-surgery communication is the key to successful post-procedure outcomes.

Before they can adapt pre-surgery education to meet patient needs, healthcare leaders must know where it is most lacking. Gallup finds the biggest gap between pre-surgery patient education and post-surgery outcomes among Generation X males (born 1965-1979) and millennial males (born 1980-1996) who are undergoing acute procedures (versus elective and cardiac procedures). Though there is room for improving patient education across the board, hospital leaders could enhance patient outcomes by reassessing their education strategy and messages for these key patient segments. By taking steps to understand the education gaps for various patient groups and demographics, leaders can ensure that they maintain a strong, proactive approach in education for all patients.

How to Improve Patient Education

Healthcare providers and medical device companies can improve patient outcomes significantly by refining patient communication and education. The following are a few best practices to help leaders make this happen.

What healthcare leaders should do:

· Emphasize proactive communication. When patients have well-informed expectations, they tend to be less anxious before procedures and less surprised after them. Hospitals can emphasize the importance of proactive communication by equipping doctors, nurses and staff with knowledge, experience and materials to meet patients' education needs. They should also implement a system of accountability to ensure that doctors, nurses and staff are prepared to talk with patients about their upcoming procedure -- and that patients receive that education consistently.

· Use checklists. Following studies and articles by respected physicians such as Atul Gawande and Peter Pronovost, the use of checklists during surgery has profoundly reduced surgical and medical errors. A similar strategy, founded in best practices for when, what and how to educate patients, can help providers ensure that patients understand crucial pre- and post-surgical expectations.

· Tailor communication to each patient. Healthcare providers should personalize communications to meet each patient's needs, including individualizing the content and how doctors, nurses and staff deliver it. Focus groups with former patients can help providers determine how different patient groups best understand and retain health information. Because Gen X and millennial males undergoing acute procedures are most likely to benefit from enhanced education and communication, hospitals should start by revitalizing communication efforts with these two groups.

What medical device company leaders should do:

· Develop and maintain easily accessible content. Though healthcare providers are primarily responsible for direct patient education, medical device companies also have a stake in enhancing communication to increase patient satisfaction. Company leaders can do their part to further patient education by developing and maintaining educational content that is credible and delivered through many types of communication channels, including traditional and social media. These offerings inform patients about the best available options, increase brand awareness and build consumer trust, encouraging consumers to ask for products from a specific company.

· Understand and accommodate patient-surgeon disconnects. Providing patients and surgeons with simple, easy-to-use materials can further enhance patient comprehension and buy-in. Surgeons will benefit from materials that make it easy to explain procedures to patients. Patients will benefit from materials that help them understand the procedure and from surgeons who can provide additional information if they have questions.

· Anticipate and answer patient questions. Patients' information needs change over time, and materials written a year or more ago may already be outdated. Surgeons and hospital staff will be the first to know when materials become obsolete because patients' questions will change or increase. Asking surgeons for feedback on the questions patients ask most often about their procedures can help companies keep educational content current and relevant as technology and patient needs change.

Survey Methods

Source: http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/183365/patients-pre-surgery-education-lacking.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

381-43-13.

Americans Still Spending More, Still Not on What They Want

May 21, 2015

PRINCETON, N.J. -- A majority of Americans, 55%, say they are spending more than they did last year on groceries, the area in which Americans continually report spending more.

Description: Spending More Compared to One Year Ago

Since last June, the top three categories with the highest percentages of consumers saying they are "spending more" (groceries, utilities and healthcare) have stayed in the top five. Of these, only groceries showed a modest decline in the percentage of Americans saying they are spending more (three percentage points), while utilities and healthcare both inched up slightly (three points and two points, respectively). None of these changes, however, are statistically significant.

Consistent with the steep decline in gas prices over the past year, the only category to show a major shift in spending is "gasoline or fuel," in which 21% of Americans in March said they were spending more, compared with 50% in June 2014. Thirteen percent said they were spending less on gas last June compared with 55% this March. The net spending difference has shifted from +37 (spending more minus spending less) to -34.

Over the past nine months, there has been a general but modest decline in net spending across almost all spending categories, driven by a decreasing number of Americans saying they are spending more on each category. The exceptions to this general trend are leisure activities (+3), cable or satellite (+4), utilities (+5) and healthcare (+3), areas where more Americans say they are spending more than a year ago and fewer say they are spending less.

Description: Net Consumer Spending Compared to a Year Ago

Americans continue to spend more on things they need, but not on things they want. All five categories of discretionary purchases -- leisure activities, clothing, consumer electronics, dining out and travel -- continue to have negative net spending with substantially more Americans saying they are spending less than last year than those who say they are spending more. As household essentials claim a larger slice of Americans' spending, less remains for discretionary purchases.

These data suggest that at least some of the money that is not being spent on gas is going into discretionary spending categories -- leisure activities and dining out -- which either showed an increase in net spending or showed a modest increase in the percentage of those saying they are spending more today than a year ago. But some of the money that Americans are not spending on gas is going to other non-discretionary categories -- cable or satellite, utilities and healthcare. These three categories were among the four to show increases in net spending over the past nine months.

Americans may be letting their gas savings remain in their bank accounts or perhaps moving those funds into savings accounts -- rather than actively redirecting them to other areas of spending. Of course, other uses for this gas-driven windfall are possible too.

Implications

After nine months of following Americans' self-reported spending patterns, several conclusions seem warranted. First, net spending -- the percentage of Americans reporting that they are spending more within a category minus the percentage saying they are spending less -- seems to be fairly stable for all categories except gas or fuel. This could be attributable, in part, to the possibility that self-reports of spending may be less sensitive to actual spending fluctuations than to dramatic shifts in spending, such as the change in spending on gasoline. People may simply be inclined to overlook smaller spending changes when they discuss it. Second, gas prices have actually declined precipitously over the past nine months, and this decline is clearly reflected in Americans' perceptions of their spending. Third, net spending appears to be on a modest downward trend with the percentage of Americans reporting that they are spending more within a category and the percentage saying they are spending less moving closer together. Finally, the overall order of the spending categories based on net spending hasn't changed much since Gallup began measuring spending in this way. Three of the top four net spending categories back in June 2014 -- groceries, utilities and healthcare -- all remain at the top. Four of the bottom five net spending categories remain at the bottom -- travel, dining out, consumer electronics and clothing.

As the summer travel season begins, it will be interesting to see whether American consumers report spending more on gas and whether they say they are spending more on travel and leisure activities.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Feb. 23-March 3, 2015, with a random sample of 1,525 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±2.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For comparisons between or within the total sample for each generation, the margin of sampling error is ±5.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/183359/americans-spending-not.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication

381-43-14.

Canadians evenly divided on release of Omar Khadr

May 25, 2015

More than a dozen years after he allegedly killed an American soldier in Afghanistan, there is little consensus among Canadians in how they view Omar Khadr, or in what they think about an Alberta judge’s decision to release him on bail while he waits to appeal his U.S. Military conviction.

A new public opinion poll from the Angus Reid Institute finds divergent opinions on Khadr – a Canadian citizen who was 15 years old at the time of the incident – and on his release.

Key Findings:

Canadians are evenly divided on the judicial decision to release Khadr on bail: just over one-third each agree (38%) and disagree (39%), while one-quarter (23%) are unsure.

Description: Angus Reid Institute

Two-thirds (67% each) agree that Khadr “has every right to a proper trial” in Canada and that he was a “child soldier” who “should have been dealt with accordingly.” Views are quite split on whether he has “served his time — 13 years is enough” (52% agree, 48% disagree).

A slim majority of Canadians agree that Khadr “remains a potential radicalized threat” (55%).

Khadr’s case is politically divisive. A full majority (59%) of those who voted for the Conservative Party in the last federal election disagree with the judge’s decision, including 42 per cent who say they “disagree strongly.” Conversely, roughly half of Liberal (52%) and New Democratic Party (49%) voters agree with the decision.

Even split on judge’s decision

Nearly a quarter of Canadians (23%) aren’t sure how they feel about Khadr’s release. Those who have an opinion are evenly split, with roughly four-in-ten both agreeing with the judge’s decision (38%) and disagreeing with it (39%).

Those opposed to releasing Khadr feel strongly about the decision. More respondents (24%) choose “strongly disagree” than any other option offered, and that quarter of respondents who strongly disagree substantially outnumber the 16 per cent who strongly agree.

Support for Khadr’s release is strongest in B.C. where 42 per cent agree with the judge’s decision versus 34 per cent disagree. Residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are least supportive. Just 28 per cent in those provinces agree with the judge’s decision, while 54 per cent disagree. In all other major regions, as observed nationally, public opinion is essentially evenly divided.

Description: Angus Reid Institute

Uncertainty on ‘fairness’ of Khadr treatment

Asked whether Khadr has ultimately been treated fairly or unfairly, Canadians’ largest single response was “unsure.” Four-in-ten (40%) chose this option, while those with an opinion were slightly more likely to say he’d been treated fairly (33%) than unfairly (28%).

Perhaps predictably, those who believe Khadr has been treated fairly are more likely to disagree with his release. Three-quarters (75%) of those who believe Khadr has been treated fairly say they disagree with the judge’s decision to release him, compared to 19 per cent who agree.

Similarly, more than eight-in-ten (85%) of those who believe Khadr has been treated unfairly say they agree with the judge’s decision, compared to 9 per cent who disagree.

A ‘potential radicalized threat’ or someone who ‘has served his time’?

In October 2010, Khadr pleaded guilty to five war crimes charges before a U.S. military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he had been held since his capture in 2002.

At the time of the plea, nearly half of Canadians (48%) said in an Angus Reid poll that they believed he had done so because it was in his best interest, regardless of whether he was actually guilty. Only about half as many (27%) said they believed Khadr pleaded guilty because he actually committed all of the crimes of which he was accused.

Khadr has been in Canada since 2012, when he was transferred from a U.S. prison to serve his sentence in the country of his birth. He was released on bail earlier this month.

Today, a slim majority of Canadians agree that Khadr “remains a potential radicalized threat” (55% agree versus 45% disagree). And views are quite divided with respect to the sentiment that Khadr “has served his time – 13 years is enough” (52% versus 48%).

Larger majorities (67% in each case) agree with the statements “Omar Khadr has every right to a proper legal trial here in Canada” and that, “at age 15, he was a ‘child soldier’ and should have been dealt with accordingly.”

Description: Angus Reid Institute

Opinions on Khadr: the regional picture

There are significant regional differences in opinion on the threat Khadr poses to Canada and the idea that he’s served his time, with higher agreement on one statement tending to correspond with higher disagreement on the other. And of course, views on these more specific angles vary predictably by people’s overall perspective on him being released on bail.

Respondents from British Columbia are the only group to voice less than 50 per cent agreement with the statement about Khadr remaining a potential radicalized threat: 46 per cent do so. B.C. also has the highest rate of agreement (60%) with the statement about Khadr having served his time.

Prairie residents – those in Manitoba and Saskatchewan – have the opposite perspective. Two-thirds (65%) agree that Khadr remains a threat, and 37 per cent agree that he has served his time.

Divergence is also seen among 18-to-34-year-olds versus other age groups. Younger respondents are slightly less likely to agree that Khadr remains a threat (48% do so, compared to 59% of those ages 35-54 and 56% of those over the age of 55).

Younger respondents are also slightly more likely to agree that Khadr has served his time. Nearly three-in-five (59%) do so, compared to roughly half of respondents of other ages (48% of 35-to-54-year-olds and 51% of those over 55).

Political preferences colour opinions on Khadr case

Opinions about Khadr are most hardened among Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the last federal election. Just one-quarter (25%) of past Conservative voters agree with the judge’s decision to grant bail, while fully three-in-five (60%) disagree, including 42 per cent who do so strongly.

By contrast, roughly half of those who voted for the Liberal Party of Canada (52%) or the New Democratic Party (49%) in the last federal election agree with the judge’s decision, while smaller minorities within each subset disagree (23% of past Liberal and 30% of past NDP voters).

Along the major parties, the Conservatives also have the lowest level of uncertainty regarding Khadr’s release. Only 15 per cent are unsure, compared to 25 per cent of Liberal and 21 per cent of NDP voters.

On the issue of fairness, those who voted for the Conservative Party in the last federal election held a markedly different perspective than those who voted for other parties. More than half of Conservatives (56%) said Khadr had been treated fairly. Only 21 per cent of Liberals and 24 per cent of NDP voters said the same.

Description: Angus Reid Institute

Past Conservative voters are also far more likely to agree that Khadr remains a potential radicalized threat. Nearly three-quarters of Conservative voters (72%) agree with this statement, compared to 46 per cent or less among voters for all other political parties. (See detailed tables at the end of this release).

Large numbers of past CPC voters also disagree with more sympathetic statements about Khadr, including two-thirds (66%) who disagree that he “has served his time” and 45 per cent who disagree that he “was a ‘child soldier’ and should have been dealt with accordingly.”

Source: http://angusreid.org/canadians-divided-on-khadr/

LATIN AMERICA

381-43-15.

Eight out of ten Brazilians consider themselves religious

Note: You are reading googletranslation of a Portuguese survey.

May 19, 2015

Those who do not consider themselves religious totaling 16%

The proportion of people who consider themselves religious puts Brazil above the global average, which is 63%. In contrast, those who do not consider themselves religious totaling 22% of the world population and 11% claim to be atheists.

In Africa and the Middle East, the percentage of those who mention being religious is, respectively, 86% and 82%. In eastern Europe and the Americas, this percentage drops to 71% and 66%, respectively. In Asia, 62% of people say they are religious.

The populations of Oceania and western Europe are those with the most polarized opinions. In Oceania, 44% consider themselves religious and 37% are not considered, while in European countries this proportion is 43% X 37%. It is also in these two regions and in Asia where the greatest number of atheists: 14% in Western Europe and Asia and 12% in Oceania.

Description: http://www.ibope.com.br/pt-br/noticias/PublishingImages/2015/Maio/eoy.jpg

The less religious - The country with the least religious people is China, where 61% of the population claims to be atheist, about twice more than any other country surveyed. In addition, 29% of Chinese say not to be religious.

Hong Kong and Japan are the other countries with the greatest number of atheists: 34% and 31%, respectively. In the West, the least religious country is Sweden, where 74% said not claim to be religious or atheists.

The survey also shows that there is a direct relationship between religion and age, income and educational level. According to the study, people with higher levels of education and younger (up to 34 years) tend to be more religious: 80% and 66%, respectively.

On the other hand, the higher the lower the level of income religion. Among those with higher income, fewer than 50% say they are religious, compared with 70% of those with the lowest income. The number of atheists follow the same path: reaches 25% among those with the highest yields and is only 5% among people with the lowest earnings.

About the survey

In total, the study heard 63,898 people in 65 countries. In Brazil, 2,002 interviews were made between October and November 2014.

Source: http://www.ibope.com.br/pt-br/noticias/Paginas/Oito-em-cada-dez-brasileiros-se-consideram-religiosos.aspx

AUSTRALASIA

381-43-16.

White out: Aussies opt for fresh over long-lasting milk

May 20, 2015

There has been little change in these figures over the past five years, with an almost negligible shift in favour of long-life/UHT milk, consumption of which rose from 14% to 15% of the population between 2010 and 2014. The proportion of Aussies drinking fresh milk declined from 72% to 70%, and those who drink both types of milk in an average seven days crept up from 8% to 9% over the same period.

Long-life/UHT milk is most likely to be consumed by Aussies from older households (18%) and least likely to be consumed in households comprised of Young Parents and their families (12%). Conversely, this latter group has the highest incidence of fresh milk consumption (75%), while older households (68%) are below average in terms of their fresh milk consumption.

Fresh vs long-lasting milk: consumption rates by household life cycle

Description: who-drinks-milk-chart

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), January–December 2014 (n=15,944). Base: Australians 14+

Geography makes little difference to the kind of milk someone drinks, with consumption incidence fairly consistent between states — except for South Australia, where 18% of residents drink long-life/UHT milk in an average seven days.

Michele Levine, CEO, Roy Morgan Research, says:

“With fresh milk affordable and readily available, Australians have not embraced UHT/long-life milk to nearly the same extent as some European and Asian countries. Even among sectors of the population with an above-average incidence of long-life milk consumption, such as older households, fresh milk’s popularity remains unchallenged.

“Despite being almost identical to fresh milk in terms of nutritional value and calorie count, plus having the added bonus of not needing to be refrigerated until it’s open, UHT/long-life milk has made minimal inroads with Australian consumers over the past five years. Although UHT milk tends to be cheaper than fresh milk, the ongoing supermarket ‘milk wars’ mean the price difference is not as great as it might once have been.

“Tellingly, young parents and mid-life families are even more likely than the average Australian to buy fresh milk, and less likely to buy the long-life variety. This suggests that they believe fresh milk is healthier and therefore better for their kids.

“In short, producers of UHT/long-life milk keen to boost their popularity in Australia have their work cut out for them. Before they can make any progress, an in-depth knowledge of their current and potential consumers is vital: from the attitudes behind their purchasing decisions to the life stage of their household…”

Source: http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6241-aussies-opt-for-fresh-over-longlife-milk-201505192359

381-43-17.

On your bike! Cycling participation picks up speed

Twenty-three percent of Western Australians aged 14+ ride their bike either regularly or occasionally, the highest cycling participation rate in the country. Given its famed climate, a capital city with more sunny days per year than any other Australian capital, and some truly scenic metropolitan cycle paths, this is not particularly surprising.

In second place is Victoria, where 20% of the population cycle. Factor in Melbourne’s hipster fraternity tootling around the inner-city on their ‘fixies’, a comprehensive network of urban and regional cycling paths, and a busy events calendar for enthusiasts, and this also makes sense.

The state of the cycling nation: cycling participation by state

Description: state-cycling-trends

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), April 2014–March 2015 (n=15,913).

Residents of Tasmania (15%) and NSW/ACT (17%) are less likely to cycle, but like the other states, their participation rates have risen since 2005.

The rise of the MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra)

It seems that cycling’s popularity knows no bounds, having risen among men (22%, up from 16%), women (16%, up from 9%), and all age groups except boys aged 14-17 years old. Once the age group with the highest cycling participation rate (33% rode their bike either occasionally or regularly back in 2005), the ‘yellow jersey’ now belongs to men aged 34-49!

Did somebody say MAMIL? Cycling among Aussie men: 2005 vs 2015

Description: rise-of-mamil

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), April 2004–March 2015 (n=9,795) and April 2014–March 2015 (n=6,712).

Over the last decade, there has been a surge in more mature male cyclists, with participation rates rising from 18% to 26% among men aged 35-49 years, doubling among men aged 50-64 (from 12% to 24%) and more than doubling from 6% to 13% among men aged 65+.

Norman Morris, Industry Communications Director, Roy Morgan Research, says:

“Along with working out at the gym, jogging, swimming and hiking/bushwalking, cycling is one of Australia’s key growth sports, gaining 1.6 million additional participants over the last decade. This is almost certainly the result of a number of factors: soaring petrol prices, congested roads, over-crowded public transport and Cadel Evans’s 2011 Tour de France victory among them.

“The WA Government’s recent announcement that cyclists will soon be allowed to ride on footpaths is an indication of the sport’s popularity in that state, but also hints that the growing number of cyclists sharing the roads with motorists is becoming a problem. In fact, many Australian cities are working to accommodate increased bicycle traffic on their roads, introducing designated cycle lanes and tougher penalties for ‘car-dooring’ in an attempt to adapt to evolving traffic trends.

“Meanwhile, the MAMIL (middle-aged men in lycra) phenomenon shows no sign of abating. With low impact on joints and a strong social aspect (they often travel in packs!), cycling’s appeal for this demographic is undeniable.

“Interestingly, cycling is one of the few sports in which participation comes close to TV viewing incidence (especially compared with something like Aussie Rules football, for example). One in five Australians watch cycling on television (up from 8% in 2005), almost identical to the proportion who participate in the sport — good news for SBS, which is currently broadcasting the Giro d’Italia and gearing up for the Tour de France…”

Source: http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6237-cycling-participation-picks-up-speed-201505172306

MULTI-COUNTRY SURVEYS

381-43-18.

Family Support in Graying Societies

How Americans, Germans and Italians Are Coping with an Aging Population

May 21, 2015

The Growing Population of Older People in the U.S., Germany and Italy

% of population age 65 or older

In 2015, Germany and Italy are already at a level the U.S. may reach in 2050.

Widespread Concerns About the Future of Social Security

Few Italians Saving for Retirement

Most See Helping an Aging Parent as a Responsibility

More Are Giving Time Rather than Money to Help Aging Parents

The Sandwich Generation

Other Key Findings

381-43-19.

Job Market Optimism Up Sharply in Northern America, Europe

May 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Although global job prospects remained glum in 2014, slightly more than one in three adults worldwide (36%) said it was a "good time" to find a job in their communities, which is up two percentage points from the previous year. Optimism was highest in Northern America (51%) and lowest in the European Union (25%). Both regions experienced the largest year-over-year improvements in the world.

Description: Good or Bad Time to Find a Job, by Region

These data were collected throughout 2014 in 145 countries and may not reflect some of changes that have occurred since that time, such as ongoing declines in unemployment rates in the U.S. Northern America's 13-point increase was the largest positive change in the world, followed by the EU's eight-point increase and the Middle East and North Africa's six-point gain.

Meanwhile, the percentage saying it was a good time to find a job inched up three points to 38% in Asia and the Pacific region, which was the only region that didn't have a majority viewing it as a "bad time" to find a job. The jobs outlook in sub-Saharan Africa and the former Soviet Union remained unchanged.

Opposing Trends: Big Gains in Northern America While Latin America Dips

The jobs outlook in Northern America was notably rosier than that in Latin America and the Caribbean for the first time since the global economic downturn in 2008, and it marked the first time that a majority of residents in Northern America said it was a good time to find a job in their areas. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the four-point decrease in the percentage saying it was a good time to find a job led to the region's worst jobs outlook since 2010.

Description: Good Time to Find a Job, Northern America vs. Latin America and the Caribbean

A souring jobs outlook in five of Latin America's six most populous nations -- Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela -- largely drove the dip in the percentage saying it was a good time to find a job in the region. Majorities of residents in only three Latin American countries had a positive outlook on job prospects in their areas: Panama (60%), Paraguay (54%) and Bolivia (51%). In 2013, Panama was the only Latin American nation with a majority holding this view and saw no change in its figure in the following year. Paraguay and Bolivia, however, saw seven- and six-point improvements, respectively, in that time.

Meanwhile, the jobs outlook in Northern America improved significantly. This is largely attributable to the 14-point increase in the percentage saying it was a good time to find a job in the U.S., likely reflecting a surging stock market, economic growth and a falling unemployment rate. Last year marked the first time in Gallup's tracking that U.S. job market optimism has matched that in Canada.

Description: 2014JobMarketOptimism3new

Most EU Nations Experience Improvements in Job Market Outlook

One in four EU residents said it was a good time to find a job in their area in 2014 -- the best outlook the region has had since the global economic collapse in 2008. Double-digit increases in eight countries, led by Ireland (+30) and the United Kingdom (+26), boosted the "good time" percentage from a dismal 17% in 2013. There were no declines in any EU member states, which is also positive news. But in some countries, such as Italy where 3% said it was a good time to find a job, it would have been difficult for outlooks to have been much worse.

Description: 2014JobMarketOptimism4new

Germans remained the most optimistic in the EU, with the seven-point boost in 2014 making it the only country where a majority of residents were optimistic about the current job market. Notably, the jobs outlook in troubled Greece also improved by seven points. Attitudes in Spain and Portugal, which also suffered during the recent European sovereign debt crisis, were up eight and 10 points, respectively.

Bottom Line

Worldwide, the jobs outlook continues to inch slowly higher after bottoming out at 25% in 2009. Still, a slight majority of people in the world view the job market pessimistically. Improvements in the employment outlook in the EU -- which has arguably had nowhere to go but up after years of dour levels of optimism -- are a welcomed sign that the region is in the process of recovering.

Northern Americans led the world in job optimism in 2014. Several key economic factors -- including increased economic confidence and lower unemployment in the U.S. -- have most likely made Northern American residents much more hopeful about their jobs outlook into 2015.

The data in this article are available in Gallup Analytics.

Survey Methods

Results are based on face-to-face and telephone interviews with approximately 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, conducted throughout 2013 in 130 countries and 2014 in 145 countries. For results based on the total samples margin of sampling error ranges from ±2.5 percentage points to ±5.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

With some exceptions, all samples are probability based and nationally representative of the resident population aged 15 and older.

Exceptions include areas where the safety of interviewing staff is threatened, scarcely populated islands in some countries, and areas that interviewers can reach only by foot, animal, or small boat.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/183380/job-market-optimism-sharply-northern-america-europe.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication