Retrospective Assessments of the National Economy

Texans' views on the state of the national economy are improving slowly and gradually, as the longitudinal chart comparing assessments as of October 2009 to previous assessments shows. 59% of respondents answered that the national economy is worse off than it was a year ago, as opposed to 71% in June 2009 and 81% in February 2009. Conversely, 24% of respondents answered that the national economy is better off than it was a year ago, as opposed to 11% in June 2009 and 6% in February 2009.

Retrospective Assessments of Personal Economic Situations

No such clear trend can be discerned from respondents with respect to their personal economic situations. Much like in previous polls, large and statistically equal percentages of respondents say they and their families are either economically worse off or about the same as they were one year ago, while a significantly smaller percentage of respondents say they and their families are better off than they were one year ago.

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¹ Numbers don't add up to 100 because of rounding -- see the summary document for exact percentages.