Measuring News Interest Week of February 16-22 41
Last week, the public continued to track a number of economic policy developments very closely. Final passage of the $787 billion economic stimulus legislation was the top story in terms of news interest. Roughly four-in-ten (41%) say they followed final action on the economic stimulus bill very closely, while 35% named this story as the news item they followed most closely – by far the highest percentage for any of the week’s stories.
Measuring News Interest  | Week of February 16-22  | 41  | Stimulus passage  | 35  | 31  | Stock drop  | 11  | 31  | Mortgage plan  | 10  | 33  | Auto industry  | 8  | 25  | TARP funds  | 6  | Afghanistan  | 6  | Percent who followed this story very closely  | Percent who named story as their most closely followed 