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Minnesota: Finances

 

Evaluation of Personal Financial Situation

 

Evaluation of Personal Financial Situation

Poll Date
Getting ahead
Falling behind
Holding steady
No opinion
Sample MoE
Quinnipiac1 September 1­4-21, 2008
11%
25%
64%
0%
 1,301 LV ± 2.7
Quinnipiac1 July 14-22, 2008
14%
24%
62%
1%
 1,261 LV ± 2.8
Quinnipiac1 June 17-24, 2008
15%
23%
61%
1%
 1,572 LV ± 2.5

1 "Which best describes your family's financial situation: getting ahead, falling behind, or holding steady?"

 

Evaluation of Personal Financial Situation

Poll Date
In debt
About even
Ahead
No opinion
 Sample MoE
SurveyUSA1 February 15-17, 2008
40%
32%
26%
2%
 600 ± 4.1
SurveyUSA1 November 11-13, 2005
35%
34%
27%
4%
 600 ± 4.1

1 "Thinking about your money ... are you in debt, are you about even, or are you ahead?"

 

Most Worrisome Economic Issue For Personal Finances

Economic issue1
June 17-24, 2008
July 14-22, 2008
September 14-21, 2008
Rising gasoline prices
42%
39%
29%
Rising health care costs
21%
22%
23%
Rising food prices
14%
13%
13%
Declining real estate values
9%
10%
12%
Declining retirement fund values
9%
10%
17%
No opinion
6%
6%
5%
Poll
Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac
Sample
1,572 LV
1,261 LV
1,301 LV
MoE
± 2.5
± 2.8
± 2.7

1 "As you think about your own financial situation, which of the following economic issues worries you the most right now...?"

 

Trend in Personal Financial Situation

 

Financial Situation Compared to One Year Ago

Poll Date
Better
off
About
the same
Worse
off
No
opinion
 Sample MoE
Humphrey Institute1 October 21-26, 2004
25%
48%
26%
0%
 609 LV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR2 July 12-14, 2004
23%
53%
23%
1%
 625 RV ± 4.0
Humphrey Institute1 June 21 – July 12, 2004
26%
52%
23%
0%
 589 RV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR1 October 11-12, 2001
27%
53%
18%
2%
 625 RV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR1 July 2-5, 2001
21%
60%
19%
0%
 627 RV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR1 February 5-6, 2001
35%
51%
14%
0%
 625 RV ± 4.0

1 "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you and the people in your household are better off, worse off, or just about the same financially as you were a year ago?"

2 "In the past year, has your household's financial situation gotten better/improved, worse or stayed about the same?"

 

Predication of Future Financial Situation

Poll Date
Better
off
About
the same
Worse
off
No
opinion
 Sample MoE
Pioneer Press / MPR1 July 12-14, 2004
28%
58%
8%
6%
 625 RV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR1 October 11-12, 2001
19%
61%
16%
4%
 625 RV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR1 July 2-5, 2001
16%
67%
15%
2%
 627 RV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR1 February 5-6, 2001
21%
62%
15%
2%
 625 RV ± 4.0

1 "Looking ahead to a year from now, do you think that your household will be better off financially, worse off or about the same?"

 

Debts and Payments Compared to One Year Ago

Poll Date
Yes
No
No opinion
 Sample MoE
Pioneer Press / MPR1 October 11-12, 2001
18%
78%
4%
 625 RV ± 4.0
Pioneer Press / MPR1 July 2-5, 2001
20%
76%
4%
 627 RV ± 4.0

1 "Would you say that your car loans, credit card debt, mortgage payments or other consumer debt have become more of a burden in the past year?"

 

Rise in Home Prices

Poll Date
Positive
Negative
No effect
No opinion
 Sample MoE
Pioneer Press / MPR1 July 2-5, 2001
28%
18%
53%
1%
 627 RV ± 4.0

1 "In many parts of Minnesota, home prices have risen quickly in the past few years. Thinking of your personal situation, has this been a positive development for you, a negative development or has it had no effect?"

 

Financial Investments

 

Ownership of More Than $5,000 Stocks, Bonds, or Mutual Funds

Poll Date
Yes
No
No opinion
Sample MoE
Rasmussen1 October 7, 2008
75%
19%
5%
 500 LV ± 4.5

1 "Do you own more than $5,000 of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds?"

 

Interest Rates

 

View of Rising Interest Rates

View1
July 12-14, 2004
I view this favorably because savings will earn more interest
25%
I view this unfavorably because loans will cost more
9%
I have mixed feelings about this
60%
No opinion
7%
Poll
Pioneer Press / MPR
Sample
625 RV
MoE
± 4.0

1 "As you may know, interest rates have apparently started to rise after a long period of declining. Which one of the following is closest to your view?"

 

Mortgage Payments

 

Mortgage Payments Status

Poll Date
Ahead of schedule
On schedule
Behind schedule
No opinion
 Sample MoE
SurveyUSA1 February 15-17, 2008
16%
77%
7%
0%
 350 ± 5.3

1 "Are you making your mortgage payments ahead of schedule, on schedule, or behind schedule?" Asked of individuals with mortgages.