Despite a historically low national unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in April, nearly half of Americans feel the economic upturn has helped them not at all (29 percent) or not much (24 percent), according to the latest Monmouth University poll.
"We continually see national economic indicators hitting new marks, such as last week's news of the lowest unemployment rate in 18 years. And yet very few Americans feel like they are reaping the benefits," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch.
A majority of 57 percent respondents say wealthy families have benefited "a lot" from President Donald Trump's economic policies, while 14 percent say middle-class families have benefited "a lot."
A majority of respondents, 53 percent, say the poor have not benefited at all.
"Americans have a wide variety of financial anxieties that keep them awake at night, but the common thread is that very few expect Washington will make things easier for them," Murray said.
When it comes to the biggest concern facing families, 13 percent of respondents reported the cost of health care. This was followed by the everyday costs of living, such as everyday bills, groceries, and the like (12 percent); job security and unemployment (9 percent), and taxes (7 percent).
Further down the list of concerns were immigration ( 4 percent), terrorism (2 percent), and guns (2 percent).
The poll was conducted by telephone from April 26 to April 30 with 803 adults across the United States, the Institute said.
"We continually see national economic indicators hitting new marks, such as last week's news of the lowest unemployment rate in 18 years. And yet very few Americans feel like they are reaping the benefits," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch.
A majority of 57 percent respondents say wealthy families have benefited "a lot" from President Donald Trump's economic policies, while 14 percent say middle-class families have benefited "a lot."
A majority of respondents, 53 percent, say the poor have not benefited at all.
"Americans have a wide variety of financial anxieties that keep them awake at night, but the common thread is that very few expect Washington will make things easier for them," Murray said.
When it comes to the biggest concern facing families, 13 percent of respondents reported the cost of health care. This was followed by the everyday costs of living, such as everyday bills, groceries, and the like (12 percent); job security and unemployment (9 percent), and taxes (7 percent).
Further down the list of concerns were immigration ( 4 percent), terrorism (2 percent), and guns (2 percent).
The poll was conducted by telephone from April 26 to April 30 with 803 adults across the United States, the Institute said.
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