Gallup: Record-Low Percentage Cite Economy As Main US Concern

A record-low 12 percent of Americans cite some aspect of the economy as the most important problem facing the country, down from 17 percent last month and one percentage point below the previous low of 13 percent in May 1999, according to a Gallup poll released on Monday.

The highest mention of the economy as the top problem in recent decades was 86 percent in February 2009.

Other results from the survey indicate:

• Fifty-five percent say the economy is getting better, among the highest proportions saying this since 2004. A near-record-high 64 percent say now is a good time to find a quality job.
• The top problem cited, at 29 percent, was concerns about the government, approaching the all-time high of 33 percent in October 2013. Immigration, at 12 percent, was the issue of second most concern, followed by race issues at nine percent, the need to unify the country at seven percent and healthcare at five percent.
• Satisfaction with how things are going in the country, at 37 percent, has remained stable over the past five months and is the average level since Gallup began measuring it in 1979. The low point of seven percent was in October 2008, while the high of 71 percent was in February 1999.
• The level of satisfaction is very partisan, as only 12 percent of Democrats say they are, compared to 68 percent of Republicans.

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted September 4-12, with a random sample of 1,035 adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

• Economic Growth Slowing Amid Lower Consumer Spending, Manufacturing
• Kudlow: Trump Economy Is 'Killing It' Right Now