Poll shows Americans are pessimistic about 2009

According to the Zogby/Times Square New Year's Eve National Poll, the fourth annual Times Square New Years Eve poll conducted for the Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, co-organizers of the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, Americans are overwhelming glad to say goodbye to 2008 but are guardedly optimistic about 2009. According to a news release, those polled appear to feel that 2009 year will be worse or the same as 2008. This was the result of an online poll conducted by Zogby International in December 2008 of 2,000 adults.

"New Year's is a time when people both reflect about where they've been and look ahead to where they're going," said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance. "Given all the economic, social and political changes going on, Americans seem to be a bit unsure of what's ahead. They seem to be aware that there is no quick-fix and that it'll take time for things to get better. Nevertheless, there's a feeling of hope - a feeling that if we can get past these challenging times, better things are ahead for us and the next generation."

According to the poll, 75% think 2008 was worse for the world than 2007, compared to only 39% polled in December 2007. In 2007, 59% said that 2007 was better for them personally than 2006; this year only 32% said it was better.

In the December 2007, 20% had predicted 2008 would be worse than 2007, but the most recent poll shows that 75% are saying that 2008 was in fact a worse year for the world than 2007. Only 43 % of respondents think 2009 will be better for them personally, compared to 59% who said that a year ago. Young people more optimistic, with 57.9% expecting 2009 to be better. Lower income respondents ($25, 000 or less) are the least optimistic about the 2009.

Only 40% of respondents expect those born in 2009 to have a better quality of life than the generations before them, and almost 50% of young people expect the next generation to be better off. Of seniors, only 30% feel that the next generation will be better off than previous generations.

The margin of error in the Zogby poll is +/- 2.2 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.