Measuring News Interest Percent fo blowing each Which one story did you
The public continues to track news about the U.S. economy closely as American automakers struggle, stock markets prove volatile, real estate values drop further, and jobs disappear. Nearly half (48%) say they followed economic news last week very closely. Three-in-ten say they followed news about the economy more closely than any other story last week. According to PEJ, news about the economic crisis took up 35% of the newshole.
More than a quarter (28%) say they followed Obama’s budget proposal very closely, while 17% say that was the story they followed most closely last week. Budget coverage filled about 6% of the newshole.
The menacing floods in Fargo, N.D., attracted the very close attention of 24% of the public, while 13% say that was the story they followed most closely. Stories about the flooding that forced the evacuation of thousands made up 5% of the newshole.
About a third (36%) say they very closely followed news about the Obama administration’s plans to expand financial regulation of financial institutions in response to the economic crisis; 8% say that was the story they followed most closely.
Measuring News Interest  | Percent fo blowing each  | Which one story did you  | story very closely"  | fo low most closely"?  | 30  | Economy 48  | 17  | Obama's budget 28  | Fargo floods  | 24  | 13  | 8 ALLEATER CONTERTATION  | Financial regs 36  | Police shooting 20  | Clinton/Mexico  | 14 