Just 49% Expect a Better Year Ahead 2015 will be better or worse than 2014? (%)
The public remains deeply dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. Just 26% are satisfied with national conditions, while 71% are dissatisfied. And it has muted expectations for the year to come: 49% say they think 2015 will be a better year than 2014, while 42% think it will be worse. The current ratings are more pessimistic than in recent years, as the public generally takes an optimistic view of the year to come.
A year ago, 56% thought 2014 would be a better year than the last, compared with fewer (35%) who thought it would be worse. The current seven-point gap in expectations for a better (49%) than worse (42%) year is the narrowest margin measured in Pew Research Center surveys dating to 1994.
Just 49% Expect a Better Year Ahead  | 2015 will be better or worse than 2014? (%)  | Better  | Worse  | DK  | 56  | 5  | 49  | 35  | 42  | 26  | 28  | 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14  | Survey conducted Dec 3-7 2014.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER/USA TODAY 