---
"title": "Rate US Economy Good or Excellent"
"description": "Fewer than one-in-five Americans (17%) now rate the US economy as performing well -- a sharp decline from the already low number (26%) who viewed the economy as in good or excellent state in the first month of 2008"
"date": "2008-03-17"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Russell Heimlich"
    "job_title": "Former web developer"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2008/03/17/rate-us-economy-good-or-excellent/"
---

# Rate US Economy Good or Excellent

Public views of the US economy, already quite negative, have plummeted since January; last month just 17% rated the nation’s economy as good or excellent, down from 26% the previous month. The percentage of Americans rating the economy as “poor” has increased even more dramatically, from 28% to 45% in one month. Moreover, there has been a modest rise in the proportion of Americans who view their own finances negatively, though personal financial ratings continue to be more positive than opinions of the overall economy. A majority of Americans (53%) now say their financial situation is only fair or poor, up from 49% in January.[Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/pubs/734/economy)