Recession and Inflation Pessimism Persists: The Harris Survey
A 52-to-38 per cent majority of Americans still believe the country is in a recessionÛÓdespite the claims of economists that the economy is recovering, inflation is leveling off and unemployment will slowly decline.</br></br>These findings from a recent Harris Survey of 1,510 adults nationwide show improvement over those of a year ago. Then, a much higher 63-to-28 per cent majority felt that the country was in a recession.</br></br>Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the publicÛªs pessimism about the possibility of an economic recovery has remained steady, When asked if they thought, the country would be in a recession a year from now, a narrow 40-to-38 per cent plurality said it would: a year ago. the plurality was an almost identical 40-tolifi.</br></br>at the economy is crucial, because a major element, in a sustained return to prosperity is the publicÛªs willingness to keep spending money and to maintain consumer demand in the marketplace.</br></br>In many areas, it seems that consumer demand is holding up relatively well. Yet one pessimistic element is the publicÛªs fear of inflation.