Pew Research poll: Economy tops list of Americans’ priorities

Feb 10, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer/Editor)

Pew Research polled Americans about their priorities, and according to the report, Americans have kept the economy top of mind just as they did in last year’s survey. Americans want to strengthen the economy. 75% of those polled said it should be the No. 1 priority of the Biden administration.

Coming in second place was reducing health care costs. This survey would have looked a lot different a few years ago during the pandemic, but in 2023, Americans surveyed were least concerned about COVID-19. Only 26% of those polled said it should be a top policy priority.

When it comes to the state of the economy, the majority of Americans want to reduce the budget deficit, 57% believe it to be a top priority for Congress.

Only one in five Americans polled believe the current economy is in good or excellent condition.

Tags: COVID-19, Joe Biden, Pandemic, Pew Research, U.S. Congress, U.S. Economy

KARAH RUCKER: PEW RESEARCH ASKED AMERICANS ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES. AND ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, AMERICANS HAVE KEPT ECONOMY TOP OF MIND JUST AS THEY DID IN LAST YEAR’S SURVEY.

AMERICANS WANT TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY. 75 PERCENT OF THOSE POLLED SAY IT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

COMING IN SECOND WAS REDUCING HEALTH CARE COSTS. THIS SURVEY WOULD HAVE LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT A FEW YEARS AGO DURING THE PANDEMIC. BUT IN 20-23 — AMERICANS SURVEYED WERE LEAST CONCERNED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.
ONLY 26 PERCENT SAYING IT SHOULD BE A TOP POLICY PRIORITY.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY — THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT TO REDUCE THE BUDGET DEFICIT.
57 PERCENT BELIEVE IT TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR CONGRESS.

ONLY ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS POLLED BELIEVE THE CURRENT ECONOMY IS IN GOOD OR EXCELLENT CONDITION.