U.S. Satisfaction Continues to Improve in March

[DonViejo]

Source: Gallup

MARCH 23, 2021

BY JUSTIN MCCARTHY

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

32% of Americans are satisfied with direction of the U.S.

Economic Confidence Index less negative than in recent months

Congress approval remains relatively high

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans' satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. continued to improve in March, as 32% say they are satisfied with the direction of the country. This is the second monthly increase Gallup has recorded after the measure fell to its lowest point in nearly a decade in January. Still, Americans are more than twice as likely to report being dissatisfied with the country's direction (67%).



The current level of satisfaction, from a March 1-15 Gallup poll, is the highest Gallup has recorded since May 2020, though Gallup has previously noted that recent increases are largely driven by Democrats and, to a lesser extent, independents. Republicans' level of satisfaction, meanwhile, has decreased significantly since Democratic President Joe Biden took office in January. Currently, 52% of Democrats, 30% of independents and 7% of Republicans are satisfied.

U.S. Economic Confidence Less Negative

The overall increase in satisfaction with the country's direction may partly be related to improved confidence in the U.S. economy. The latest measurement of Gallup's Economic Confidence Index still has overall confidence in negative territory, at -7. But this reading shows continued improvement from February after a dip in confidence at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021. Current assessments of the economy are far better than last April's -33, in the early weeks of the pandemic, but far below pre-pandemic estimates.



-snip-

Congress Approval Remains Relatively High

More than a third of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing (36%), similar to the rating Gallup recorded in February -- which at the time marked the legislative body's highest approval rating in nearly 12 years. As with other measures, the recent increase reflects a surge in Democrats' approval of Congress after having taken control of the U.S. Senate earlier this year.

Read more: https://news.gallup.com/poll/341675/satisfaction-continues-improve-march.aspx

[lagomorph777]

1. We have a very long way to go, but it's a start!

[IronLionZion]

2. Vaccines and stimulus are very satisfying

I see lots of ads for hiring as businesses reopen