1. The Public Opinion Landscape –
The Economy September 23, 2013

2. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Perceptions of Economic Conditions / Views of the Future
2. Perceptions of Obama’s Handling of the Economy
3. Views on the Debt Ceiling
4. The Financial Crisis: Five Years Later
Slide
2
10
14
18

3. 2
Perceptions of Economic Conditions /
Views of the Future

4. 3
Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data, as of September 18, 2013
Widening Gap
The trend shows
that the gap
between those who
are optimistic and
pessimistic about
the future of our
country is beginning
to widen.
AS WE EXITTHE SUMMER MONTHS, OPTIMISM
CONTINUESTO FADE
WRONG TRACK 61.1%
RIGHT DIRECTION 26.3%

5. 4
Source: Gallup Poll
FIVEYEARS LATER: CONFIDENCE IN ECONOMY
IS UP, BUT JOB FEARS REMAIN INTACT
Before
9/15/2008
One
month
later
One year
later
Today,
September
2013
Gallup Economic Confidence Index -39 -65 -23 -16
% Name the economy as MIP 41 47 29 21
% “good time” to find a quality job 20 14 10 27
% Name unemployment as MIP 7 3 15 17
% Worried about being laid off^ 15 n/a 31 29
% Worried that benefits will be cut^ 27 n/a 46 43
% Worried that pay will be reduced^ 16 n/a 32 31
Average daily consumer spending $113 $85 $60 $86
MIP = “Most Important Problem”
^ Based on U.S. adults employed full or part time

6. 5
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013
ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS DON’T SEE ANY
ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT IN LAST 5YEARS
It’s been five years since the beginning of the financial crisis and the economic
downturn that followed. Compared with the worst of that crisis, from your
perspective has the economy improved a great deal, improved somewhat, improved
just a little, or not improved at all?
10%
35%
32%
22%
A great deal Somewhat Just a little Not at all
1%
volunteered
that
economy
has gotten
worse

7. 6
During the next twelve months, do you think that the nation’s economy will get better,
get worse, or stay about the same?
17%
23%
19% 19% 20%
25%
18% 18%
9%
28%
18%
21%
24%
44%
35%
42%
46%
41%
45%
38%
32% 34%
33%
49% 47% 48%
37%
40%
38%
33% 35%
27% 36%
42%
45%
38%
32% 31%
27%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Will stay
the same
Will get
worse
Will get
better
Source: NBC/WSJ Survey, September 5-8, 2013
AMERICANSVIEW ECONOMY AS STAYINGTHE
SAME OVERTHE COURSE OFTHE NEXTYEAR

8. 7
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013
POLITICAL PREDISPOSITIONS INFLUENCE
ECONOMIC ASSESSMENTS, AS DOES INCOME
67%
43%
22%
58%
48%
39%
% seeing improvement in the economy

9. 8
ECONOMIC CONCERNS LOWEST OF OBAMA
PRESIDENCY; BUT STILL REMAIN ONTOP
Percentage of Americans Mentioning Economic Issues as Most Important Problem
Most Important Problem – September 2013
Economy in general (21%) Healthcare (10%)
Unemployment / jobs (17%) Situation in Syria (8%)
Dissatisfaction with government (16%) Federal budget deficit / Federal debt (5%)
Source: Gallup Poll, September 5-8, 2013

10. 9
JOB SITUATION ISTHETOP ECONOMIC WORRY
Which of the following national economic
issues worries you most?
The job situation (40%)
The federal budget deficit (24%)
Rising prices (22%)
The condition of the financial and housing
markets (10%)
Other / None / Don’t know (4%)
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, September 4-8, 2013

11. 10
Perceptions of Obama’s Handling
of the Economy

12. 11
Do you approve or disapprove of
the way Obama is handling…?
Issue
NET
APPROVE
NET
DISAPPROVE
The economy 43% 56%
Health care
policy
42% 55%
Foreign affairs 40% 57%
The federal
budget deficit
36% 61%
The situation in
Syria
31% 63%
Source: CNN/ORC Poll, September 6-8, 2013
OBAMA’S OVERALL JOB APPROVAL RATING
FADES; MAJORITIES DISAPPROVE HANDLING OF
VARIOUS ISSUES
DISAPPROVE 51.0%
APPROVE 43.2%
Source: Pollster.com Aggregate Data, as of September 20, 2013
Overall Job Approval

13. 60% 59% 58%
45% 45%
34%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Reagan
(1985)
Eisenhower
(1957)
Clinton
(1997)
G.W. Bush
(2005)
Obama
(2013)
Nixon
(1973)
12
OVERALL OBAMA APPROVAL COMPARABLE TO
HIS PREDECESSOR
Source: Historical Gallup Poll Data
Job Approval Ratings for Prior Presidents in
September of First Year of 2nd Term
Weekly Approval
Rating Average
September 9 - 15

14. HALF OF AMERICANSTHINK OBAMA’S ECONOMIC
POLICIES INFLATE FEDERAL DEBT, FAILTO
IMPROVE ECONOMY
13
Run up a record
federal deficit
while failing to
significantly
improve the
economy
50%
Help to avoid an
even worse
economic crisis,
and are fueling
economic recovery
37%
And, in your opinion did
President Obama’s
economic policies…
Source: Allstate/National Journal Heartland Poll XVIII, September 3-7, 2013
DK/REF
14%

15. 14
Views on the Debt Ceiling

16. 15
AMERICANS ARE SPLIT ONTHE DEBT LIMIT,
EVEN WITH FEARS OF DAMAGE
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013
What do you think is better – for Congress
to raise the debt limit so the government
can keep paying its bills and obligations or
for Congress not to raise the debt limit and
let the government default on paying its
bills and obligations?
46% 43%
Raise the debt
limit
Not raise the debt
limit
If the government cannot borrow money
to fund its operations and pay its debts, do
you think that would or would not cause
serious harm to the U.S. economy?
73%
22%
Would Would not
Note: “No opinion” results not shown.

17. 16
AMERICANS MOSTLY OPPOSED TO RAISING THE
DEBT CEILING WITH CONDITIONS
Source: Reason-Rupe Poll, September 4-8, 2012
Would you be willing to
support raising the debt
ceiling if equal amounts
of budget cuts are made,
or not?
45% 46%
9%
Favor Oppose DK/REF
Would you be willing to
support raising the debt
ceiling if funding for
Obamacare is cut off, or
not?
Would you be willing to
support raising the debt
ceiling if not raising the debt
ceiling means the U.S.
defaults on its debt, or not?
35%
56%
10%
Favor Oppose DK/REF
35%
55%
10%
Favor Oppose DK/REF

18. 17
OBAMA HAS UPPER HAND ON PERCEIVED
WILLINGNESSTO COMPROMISE
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013
Do you think [Obama / the Republican leaders in Congress] is/are doing too much, too
little, or about the right amount compared with [the Republican leaders in Congress /
Obama] on a budget plan?
Note: “No opinion” results not shown.
10% 10%
49%
64%
36%
22%
Barack Obama Republican leaders in Congress
Doing too much Doing too little About the right amount

19. 18
Financial Crisis: FiveYears Later

20. 19
FIVEYEARS AFTER CRASH, DOUBTS ABOUT U.S.
ECONOMIC SYSTEM
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, September 4-8, 2013
Thinking about the U.S. economic system in general, compared with before the 2008 financial
crisis, do you think the U.S. economic system is more secure today than it was before the 2008
economic crisis or no more secure today than it was before the 2008 economic crisis?
68%
45%
80%
63%
29%
51%
16%
33%
No more secure More secure
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent

21. 20
MANY SEE AN UNEVEN ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, September 4-8, 2013
Thinking about the recession that began in 2008. Please tell me whether you think
each of the following has fully recovered from the recession, partially recovered, or
hardly recovered at all?
Fully
recovered
Partially
recovered
Hardly
recovered
DK
Household incomes 2% 42% 54% 2%
Job situation 2% 45% 52% 1%
Real estate values 4% 59% 33% 4%
Stock market 21% 53% 18% 9%

22. 21
GOV’T POLICIES SEEN AS DOING LITTLE FOR
MIDDLE CLASS, POOR AND SMALL BUSINESSES
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, September 4-8, 2013
Thinking about the federal government’s economic policies following the recession
that began in 2008. Do you think these policies have helped [INSERT] a great deal, a
fair amount, not too much, or not at all?
40%
41%
38%
6%
6%
8%
28%
26%
21%
23%
21%
18%
25%
27%
33%
67%
71%
72%
Large banks & financial
institutions
Large corporations
Wealthy people
Small businesses
Middle class people
Poor people
A great deal A fair amount Not much / Not at all
Note: “DK/REF” results not shown.

23. 22
DEMOCRATS SEETOO LITTLE FINANCIAL
REGULATION, REPUBLICANS SEETOO MUCH
Source: Pew Research Center Poll, September 4-8, 2013
In regulating financial institutions and markets, which comes closer to your view?
Total Rep Dem Ind
The government has gone too far
regulating financial institutions and
markets, making it harder for the
economy to grow
43% 64% 26% 41%
The government has not gone far enough
in regulating financial institutions and
markets, leaving the country at risk for
another financial crisis
49% 32% 62% 51%
Don’t know / Refused 8% 4% 11% 8%

24. 23
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013
VERY FEW AMERICANS ARE CONFIDENT THAT
COUNTRY CAN AVOID ANOTHER CRISIS
6%
32%
35%
26%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Very confident Somewhat
confident
Not so confident Not at all confident
How confident are you, if at all, that the country will be able to avoid another financial crisis
in the future – very confident, somewhat confident, not so confident, or not confident at all ?
62%
Not confident
37%
Confident

25. 24
TWO-THIRDS SAYTHE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAS FAILEDTOTAKE ADEQUATE STEPSTO
PREVENT ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013
Do you think the federal
government has or has
not taken adequate
measures to prevent
another financial crisis in
the future?
Has not
66%
Has
28%
No opinion
7%

26. 25
MORETHAN SIX INTEN SAYTHE COUNTRY’S
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE FAILEDTO PUT
SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE
Source: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 12-15, 2013
Do you think the country’s
banks and other financial
institutions have or have
not taken adequate
measures to prevent
another financial crisis in
the future?
Have not
62%
Have
27%
No opinion
11%

27. 26
AMERICANS STILL ANGRY WITH BANKERS FOR
FINANCIAL CRISIS
The government was right to bail out banks and other financial institutions during the financial crisis.
Source: Ipsos-Reuters Poll, September 6-10, 2013
23%
44%
22%
Neither agree or disagree
Disagree
Agree
The government has sufficiently prosecuted bankers for their role in the financial crisis.
20%
53%
15%
Neither agree or disagree
Disagree
Agree
Note: “Don’t know” results not shown.

28. YET, IMAGE OF BANKING INDUSTRY MAKING A
SLOW COMBACK
Source: Gallup Poll, August 7-11, 2013
47% 46%
52%
46% 46%
56%
50%
36%
28% 26%
30%
25%
33%
20%
24%
20%
17%
22%
17% 18%
37%
51%
54%
47%
53%
43%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Very/somewhat positive Very/somewhat negative
For each of the following business sectors in the United States, please say whether
your overall view of it is very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat
negative or very negative.
Note: “Neutral” and “No opinion” results not shown.

29. AMERICANS’ CONFIDENCE IN BANKS UP FOR
THE FIRST TIME INYEARS
28
Source: Gallup Poll, June 1-4, 2013
The percentage of
Americans saying they
have a great deal or
quite a lot (26%) of
confidence in banks is
now about the same as
those expressing little or
no confidence (28%).
June 1-4 %
Great deal 10
Quite a lot 16
Some 45
Very little 26
None (vol.) 2
No opinion 1

30. 29
BUT AMERICANS SPLIT ON WHETHER WALL
STREET HELPSTHE ECONOMY GROW & CREATE
JOBS
Source: Ipsos-Reuters Poll, September 6-10, 2013
Wall Street banks and traders help the U.S. economy grow and create jobs.
Agree
26%
Disagree
30%
Neither
agree or
disagree
31%
Don’t
know
13%

31. 30
GPG Research
GPG has a full-scale internal research team offering the full complement of qualitative and
quantitative public opinion research services. We use research to inform message
development and communication strategy, as well as to help clients assess and monitor
critical issues and track the effectiveness of strategic communication campaigns.
GPG has a deep experience conducting research about complex economic and political topics
with diverse audiences. We go beyond the standard Q&A, using innovative, projective
techniques to uncover key insights. The result is actionable research that helps shape our
clients’ messaging and strategy.
For more information about this presentation
or to find out more about GPG’s research capabilities contact:
Jason Boxt (jboxt@gpgdc.com)