After reporting growing anxiety during the year before the November presidential election, the latest Marketplace-Edison Research Poll showed that the Economic Anxiety Index has decreased, from 36 in October to 32.
The poll found that Americans had an overall improved feeling of financial security. They were less worried about losing their jobs, ability to pay their mortgage or rent and saving for retirement than they were six months ago.
Still, other research shows that less than half of Americans are confident they will achieve their retirement goals.
The Economic Anxiety Index, a number on a scale from 0 to 100 that is calculated from answers to survey responses, describes just how stressed out people feel about their personal financial situation. The higher the number, the more economic stress someone is feeling.
The national survey involved 1,044 Americans ages 18 and older, 500 of whom were interviewed by telephone in early April and 544 of whom were interviewed online.
Reduced economic anxiety notwithstanding, 82% of respondents said they worried about health care "a lot" or "a little." It was the top economic concern across the political spectrum, though more so for Democrats that for Republicans: 38% vs. 22%.
Three-quarters of respondents expressed fear about being unable to afford health care services they or their family need.
In the meantime, the Trump administration and GOP lawmakers are at odds over a renewed effort to revise the Affordable Care Act.
One expert recently described three problems successful health care reform must solve.
Nearly three-quarters of surveyed respondents said they felt the government in Washington has forgotten them, a sentiment that cut across party lines.
The survey found that the number of Americans who completely distrust economic data reported by the federal government, such as the unemployment rate, had declined from 25% to 18% — largely driven by an increase in trust among Republicans.
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