Economic Prob lems in the News Housing Crisis 31 Recession 14 Open ended question: What one economic or financial problem have you heard the most about
Public interest in economic news soared last week amid continued stock market volatility and concerns about a possible recession. More than four-in-ten Americans (42%) followed news about the condition of the U.S. economy very closely and 20% listed this as the single news story they followed more closely than any other. That marks the highest level of public interest in economic news in five years. Interest was only somewhat greater during the recession of the early 1990s.
When asked what one economic or financial problem they have been hearing the most about in the news recently, a plurality of Americans point to problems with the housing market. More than three-in-ten (31%) mention the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the increasing number of home foreclosures or falling home values. This is more than twice the percentage citing any other economic problem, and more than five times the number who cited the stock market during a week when the market lost more than 500 points.
Economic Prob lems in the News  | Housing Crisis 31  | Recession 14  | 6 7  | Economy General  | Gas/Oil Prices  | Stock Market  | Stimulus Package  | Budget Deficit  | 3  | Health Care  | Open ended question: What one economic or  | financial problem have you heard the most about  | in the news these days? 