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Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
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Bankrate’s survey of six questions is designed to gauge how secure Americans feel about their personal finances. On March 1-4, 2012, telephone interviews with 1,009 adults living in the continental U.S. were conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. The results of Bankrate’s Financial Security Index, below, have a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.7 percentage points.
Highlights:
About 65% of Republicans say they aren’t confident the economic recovery will last through 2012.
74% of Democrats and 46% of independents say they are confident of a lasting recovery.
64% of those making $75,000-plus a year are confident about the economy, compared to 45% of those earning less.
Highlights:
27% of respondents 50 and older feel less secure about their jobs than a year ago, versus 17% of those younger than 50.
Almost a third (32%) of Republican-leaning independents feel less job security, versus just 13% of those leaning Democrat.
More men than women feel more job security compared to a year ago, at 24% versus 16%.
Highlights:
22% of Democrats are more comfortable with their savings versus a year ago, compared to 12% of Republicans and 14% of independents.
Half of respondents 50 and older say they’re less comfortable with savings, versus about 30% of younger respondents.
25% of fathers with kids younger than 18 are less comfortable with their savings this year, versus 41% of all other men.
Highlights:
34% earning less than $30,000 are less comfortable with debt than a year ago, versus about 22% of those making more.
29% of those in the West are less comfortable with debt versus 22% of the rest of the nation.
28% of those with a high school education at most are less comfortable with debt than a year ago, versus 19% of college grads.
Highlights:
28% of both Republicans and independents report lower net worth than a year ago. The same is true for 18% of Democrats.
34% of those between ages 30 and 39 report increased net worth, versus an average of 22% of all other age groups.
40% of those earning at least $75,000 have a higher net worth, compared to 18% of those earning less.
Highlights:
9% of those age 65 and older say they are better off now than a year ago, compared to 29% of younger adults.
30% of female college grads say they are better off now, versus 15% of their cohorts who never attended college.
35% of Democrats say they feel better off today, compared to 22% of Republicans and 22% of independents.
Bankrate’s Financial Security Index gauges how Americans feel today versus a year ago on vital financial matters. An index value of less than 100 indicates declining levels of financial security; a value greater than 100 reveals higher levels of security compared to 12 months ago.
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