Stronger Growth in U.S. Tracking with Increased Perceptions of America as World's Leading Economy vs. China % GDP growth, annual rate 15 % Great U.S. job Recession recovery 10
In spring 2008, before America experienced the worst of the recession, 46% in the U.S. and a median of 44% across five European Union nations – the UK, France, Germany, Poland and Spain – picked the U.S. as the top economy. And even though China was humming along at 9.6% annual growth, only 26% of Americans and a median of 29% in the EU countries said China was the world’s economic leader.
Stronger Growth in U.S. Tracking with  | Increased Perceptions of America as  | World's Leading Economy vs. China  | % GDP growth, annual rate  | 15 % Great  | U.S.  | China  | U.S. job  | Recession  | recovery  | 10  | 10.4  | 9.6  | 9.3  | 9.2  | 7.8 7.8 7.4  | 5  | 6.8  | 3.1  | 2.2 2.4  | 2.5  | 2.3  | 1.6  | -0.3  | -5  | 2.8  | Americans saying is the world's leading economy  | 75%  | 48  | 46  | 46  | 41 43 41 44  | 41  | 40  | 40  | 39  | 38  | 38  | 36  | 33  | 26  | Medians across leading five European nations saying  | is  | the world's leading economy  | 75%  | 53  | 49  | 45  | 41  | 40  | 39  | 37  | 34  | 33  | 29  | 28  | 28  | 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015  | European UK median includes France Germany, Poland Spain and  | the European UK  | Note: Data for GDP growth from IMF World Economic Outlook April  | 2015 2015 data are estimates.  | Source: Spring 2015 Global Attitudes survey.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 