Americans grow more worried about economy, poll finds

Americans are more worried about the economy than they were a year ago, according to a new Gallup poll. When asked what is the “most important problem” facing the U.S. today, 72 percent said the economy. That’s the highest mention of the economy in the poll since February 2010, but still below 86 percent in February 2009.

Respondents to the poll said the top five economic problems facing the country are the economy in general (28 percent), unemployment (26 percent), the federal deficit or debt (13 percent), gas prices (6 percent), and lack of money (4 percent). In regards to non-economic problems, 11 percent were dissatisfied with the nation’s government or leaders and 9 percent with health care. Only 1 percent of Americans mentioned the turmoil in the Middle East as the country’s most important problem.

The poll found that concern about gas prices rose to 6 percent from 1 percent over the past month. But Gallup concluded that any real alarm about gas prices would probably remain subdued until the average price per gallon reaches a new record high, which would be over $4.11 a gallon.

Gallup polled 1,021 adults aged 18 and older by phone during the first week of March, 2011.

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