PITTSBURGH -- Results of the latest exclusive WTAE-TV/Franklin & Marshall College Poll were released on Thursday morning, showing how Pennsylvanians view the current economy and their financial future.
Of the people polled:
- 36 percent said they're worse off financially this year than they were last year
- 31 percent expect their finances to be better a year from now
- 57 percent said the current recession won't end for several years
- 54 percent said they're trying to save more now than they were last year
The poll also talked to Pennsylvanians about some of the hardships they've experienced, and 49 percent said they've experienced one of these 11 suggested hardships:
- Were you evicted from your apartment or house?
- Did you have any utilities, such as water, heat, or electricity shut off because you couldn't afford the bill?
- For financial reasons, did you have to temporarily live with others or in a shelter or on the street?
- Were you unable to purchase needed food because you couldn't afford it?
- Did you fall behind in paying your rent or mortgage?
- Were you let go or permanently laid off from your job?
- Were you unable to purchase gasoline because you couldn't afford it?
- Did you lack health insurance coverage?
- Were you unable to get needed medical care because you couldn't afford it?
- Were you unemployed and looking for work for as long as a month?
- Did you experience a reduction in pay for any reason?
Of those 49 percent who said yes:
- 22 percent of them experienced pay reductions
- 21 percent suffered unemployment
- 18 percent faced an inability to afford medical care that they needed
Document - Read The Complete Poll Results (PDF)Turning to politics, the survey asked people who they'd choose if the election for Pennsylvania Supreme Court was held today. Republican Joan Orie Melvin got 22 percent, followed closely by Democrat Jack Panella at 20 percent, while 54 percent answered "don't know" and 4 percent said "other."
The survey findings were based on the results of interviews conducted Oct. 20-25 at the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin and Marshall College.
The data represent the responses of 616 adult Pennsylvanians, including 529 registered voters. Telephone numbers for the survey were generated using random dialing.
The sample error for the survey was plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. The sample error for registered adults was plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
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