Money Talks: RMS Research Panel Shares U.S. Economy Confidence With Survey Results
Recently, Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc., (RMS), a nationwide market research company, surveyed its ViewPoint Panel to learn about their confidence and perceptions regarding the state of the U.S. economy. RMS gathered responses from nearly 900 participants across the U.S. The following post shares the results of this survey.
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Direction of the economy
Participants were asked whether they believe the current economy is headed in the right direction, using a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Respondents provided a mean score of 2.3, suggesting that most participants do not feel the economy is heading in a positive direction.
How participants stay informed
Participants were asked how they stay informed about economic trends and changes; most cited methods were news outlets, the internet, and social media as their top sources.
Economic impact on daily decisions
On a scale from 1 (very little) to 5 (a great deal), participants were asked how much the economy influences their day-to-day decision-making. The mean response was 3.8, suggesting that economic conditions play a significant role in individuals’ daily planning. 53% reported delaying a major purchase due to the economy.
Among those who delayed a purchase, the majority cited postponing the purchase of a car and/or a home due to high interest rates on loans. Participants also expressed concerns about ongoing maintenance costs associated with these purchases, as well as price increases influenced by tariffs. 85% said the economy did not cause them to make a major purchase quickly.
Among those who did make a purchase, most said they bought either a new or used car. Some mentioned that specific dealerships were offering special deals. A large majority of those who purchased a car stated they did so before new tariffs went into effect.
Housing of the Participants
- 79% of participants reported owning their home
- 16% said they rent
- 5% selected “other”
Pricing Expectations for the Next Year
Participants were asked whether they believe prices in certain categories will increase, remain the same, or decrease in the next year. The majority indicated that they believed prices would increase across all categories. The top categories projected to increase were Electronics, appliances, housing and take-out.
Entertainment Spending
Participants were asked how rising entertainment prices would affect their behavior:
- 48% said they would delay purchases
- 34% said there would be no change
- 16% were unsure
- 2% said they would increase spending
Job Stability Outlook
- 46% reported that they or someone in their immediate family is worried about job stability
- 54% said they are not concerned
Financial Adjustments
- 57% said they have made financial changes in response to the current economy
Participants were asked to explain what they’ve done many noted cutting spending on dining, travel, and non-essentials while focusing on necessities. People are increasing savings, paying down debt, and shifting investments. Some are refinancing loans and managing credit carefully. Many are supplementing income with extra work and some participants are supporting family members facing job loss. Participants have made lifestyle changes like downsizing, stockpiling essentials, and tightening budgets reflect efforts to prepare for ongoing economic uncertainty.
Financial Status Compared to Last Year
- 21% said they are better off financially
- 39% said they are about the same
- 38% said they are worse off
- 1% were unsure
Financial Outlook for the Next Year
Looking ahead, participants shared their expectations:
- 22% expect to be better off
- 23% expect to remain the same
- 42% expect to be worse off
- 14% are unsure
The survey results indicate a general lack of confidence in the current economy, with most participants believing it is not heading in the right direction. Economic concerns are significantly influencing daily decision-making, with many individuals delaying major purchases. Nearly half of participants are worried about job stability, and over half have already made financial adjustments in response to economic conditions. Overall, the data suggests that consumers are cautious, financially restrained, and uncertain about their future financial outlook.
Interested in more survey results from our research panel participants across the country? Check out these related blogs:
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Exploring Summer Adventures: Results from the RMS ViewPoint Research Panel Survey
Become a Member of Our Elite Market Research Panel – ViewPoint – Click Here to Join!
About the Author – Katya Dashkevich
Katya brings years of market research experience to the RMS Analytics Department, programming surveys, coordinating recruitment, and cleaning, analyzing, and reporting survey data. Katya also supports many other divisions at RMS, including helping with phone recruitment in our call center or research needs within our healthcare division.
Interested in conducting a market research project with RMS?
Contact usfor more information at info@RMSresults.com or call 1-866-567-5422.
About RMS
Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. (RMS) is a full-service market research firm in Central New York. Formed in 2002, RMS helps organizations that are looking to know more about their customers and/or potential customers. We conduct surveys, focus groups, mystery shopping, studies, and analyses. Each project is customized and gets personal attention so that actionable, data-driven findings are delivered. RMS has a reputation for getting results. We offer an independent, professional means to conduct telephone, on-line, and mail surveying, as well as in-depth interviews, intercept interviews, and participant recruitment. We also host discussion groups through QualiSight, our onsite call center and focus group facility. We have a proven reputation for successfully recruiting and moderating focus groups, community forums, and town meetings.