Gallup: These Are the Most ‘Economically Confident’ States
Gallup has released an intriguing report that ranks the most “economically confident” states in America.
And although the report lists the most “confident” states, don’t be fooled into thinking these areas actually believe that the U.S. economy is improving. On the contrary, the report is careful to point out that, nationally speaking, faith in the U.S. economy is slipping.
In fact, out of all the areas surveyed, the place with the highest confidence rating (the District of Columbia) isn’t even a state!
“Economic confidence dropped in all states . . . in 2011, reflecting the overall decline nationally,” Gallup reports. “The declines range from a low of 3 points in Idaho and West Virginia to a high of 22 points in Delaware.”
Overall, two-thirds of the participants in the Gallup phone survey believe that the economy is getting worse, according to the data.
What does this mean?
“Americans overall and in every state remain more negative than positive about the economy, creating a challenge for President Obama as he seeks re-election this year, given the strong relationship between economic conditions and an incumbent’s re-election success,” Gallup reports.
It continues:
“On a near-term basis, however, economic confidence picked up in January of this year, perhaps foretelling a more positive uptick to come in 2012. Americans are also substantially more confident about the economy now than they were in the year Obama was elected. Thus, it is not clear if voters will reward him for the signs of economic improvement that have come in recent years, or hold him accountable for the fact that the economy is still struggling nearly four years after he took office.”
Perhaps before any conclusions are drawn from the Gallup report, a few things should be pointed out.
First, as mentioned several times on The Blaze, before accepting survey results, one should take into account the possibility of “sampling errors.” That is, one must bear in mind of the likelihood of skewed polling data.
Second, as the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein notes, there are some rather inexplicable results in the Gallup report:
… residents of Washington are more optimistic than, well, anyone else. Our Index is -4. The next-most optimistic state, North Dakota, is at -26. That’s rather odd, given that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 3.4 percent, while the District of Columbia’s is stuck above 10 percent.
Indeed, that is odd.
“One possibility is that the poll is wrong,” Klein writes, “Another is that the political nature of the economic crisis leaves residents of Washington feeling more in control than residents of other states.”
Echoing the sentiments of Mr. Klein, even Gallup is slightly confused by the results: “There are no clear patterns in the states that rank in the top and bottom 10 in economic confidence. For example, the top 10 states vary by region and political leanings, including the most (Hawaii, along with D.C.) and least (Utah) Democratic states.”
This begs the obvious question: how did Gallup structure its phone survey?
Gallup explains:
Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking January 1-December 31, 2011, with a random sample of 174,639 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones…Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents by region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Okay, now that the methodology is understood, what do the results mean? That is, what does it mean when Gallup says that the District of Columbia has a “-4″ economic confidence rating?
The Index is based on the average differences between Americans’ assessments of current conditions (11% excellent or good and 48% poor in 2011) and their views of whether the economy is getting better (29%) or worse (66%). The Index has a theoretical range of -100 to +100, with negative scores indicating respondents are more negative than positive about the economy.
So, with that in mind, and despite the possibility of “sampling errors,” these are the most economically confident states (and the District of Columbia), according to Gallup:
Photo 1 of 11
Photo 2 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -31
Photo 3 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -31
Photo 4 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -30
Photo 5 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -30
Photo 6 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -30
Photo 7 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -28
Photo 8 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -27
Photo 9 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -27
Photo 10 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -26
Photo 11 of 11
Economic confidence from -100 – +100: -4
(H/T: The Huffington Post)
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Comments (84)
Bad Kitty
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 7:43ami live in FL and even thogh were not economy cofindent, we are in better shape than quite a few other states
Report Post »ConservativeBrony
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:22amEconomic confidence chart? That’s just silly.
Report Post »Netizen Kane
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:26pmGallup. That’s all you have to hear to dismiss. It’s all relative: Average to What!?
Report Post »CanteenBoy
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 2:50amIt’s all relative in West Virginia.
Report Post »Brents Torts
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 10:15am@canteenboy
Report Post »You’re an ignorant pig.
Red1492
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 10:23am@Canteenboy – some people have no sense of humor.
Report Post »hcartexas
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 5:51pm@ CANTEENBOY…. I thought that was funny….. lighten up Tort boy.
Report Post »suz
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:47pmwhat’s missing — the color index chart.
Report Post »Tidewater_VA
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 5:32amThe darkest green must be the worst areas. I‘m in Va and it’s no picnic around here.
Report Post »Just trying to stay afloat as long as possible
BOsux
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 2:26amthe darker green were the top states…read it closely….lighter the green the lower the economic confidence.
Report Post »Rodeoamy
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:30pmGod bless Texas.
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:14pmAmen. We here in TX will survive. everyone else can go peck a rock.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 10:27amDoing better than others here in Texas. I’d say that the confidence from Texans is confidence in the Texas economy itself – not in the nations recovery. We’re pretty self sufficient down here. The bad thing is that quite a few liberals are moving here due to job availability and in the process want to make our state as crappy as the one they abandoned.
Report Post »fla6166
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:28pmMD, VA, federal government jobs,… Mass, UT, Huntsman, Romney,… Vt Ben and Jerrys?..the rest GOT OIL and GAS?
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:06pmThis means nothing – You have to look at how the questions were worded etc
Report Post »So how often do you beat your wife?
dukeofdirt
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:38pmTHey should include that 8 of the 10 richest counties in the country surround Washington D.C. and the Virginia area.Who wouldn’t be confident?
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 8:31amI think the poll is accurate. Somehow I doubt the 10%+ unemployed in DC are taking polls and the rest of the District lives in their own little make-believe world.
Report Post »eshaw380
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:48pmLOL, Illinois. Yeah right, sure sure, Illinois is going to “POOF” looky now, we no longer have a $15B pension problem. Yes thats right, the $15 billion problem, is just the pensions for state workers…
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 10:58amIllinois seems to want to continue to sink into Greece type status. They keep electing pro-public sector union Democrats that are bleeding the state dry, and driving businesses out of the state. We had a Governor like that, but now we have Walker.
Report Post »Mrarcblood
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 9:31amyep the dead and ignorant keep the thieves in power and companies are running away from here, hell I am gambling (spent the week panhandling to raise gas money) on a job interview 1100 miles away just to possibly get a job North Dakota for 40G a year. won’t be able to move family up there for at least 2 years. I love the small towns of this state and will miss the farm land but Chicago/Obama run this state like thier own cash machine
Report Post »Knightofhopex
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:39pmWhy the hell would California be so confident? That state is about to fall off the face of the earth, economically. They’re in the gutter. What a bunch of morons. :/
Report Post »OklahomaBound
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 3:42pmKnightofhopex
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:39pm
“Why the hell would California be so confident? That state is about to fall off the face of the earth, economically. They’re in the gutter. What a bunch of morons.” :/
_________________________________________________________________________________
With commies running their state and the biggest commie in the country running the WH they probably figure getting a bailout at the expense of everyone else is a sure thing which results in their confidence. California, America’s Greece.
Report Post »FierceMomma77
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:38pmLiving in Montana, I can say that economic confidence is so low, to say it is “below average” is insulting. Especially after our stupid president threw thousands of jobs out the window by declining on the XL Pipeline. What a jerk. Here is an excellent opinion piece in a local paper that the president should read: http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/obamas_baffling_pipeline_denial/26445/
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:25pmObama killed the keystone pipeline because its what George Soros wanted him to do…Soros is heavily invested in deep water south American oil drilling..The keystone pipeline could bankrupt Soros..So once again the president betrayed us..
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:02pmDoes not compute.
Report Post »robert
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:02pm“The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice.“ ”I read a funny story about how the Republicans freed the slaves. The Republicans are the ones who created slavery by law in the 1600′s. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and he was not a Republican.” –”What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?” –
continued from above
“People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn’t break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then? WOULD IT!?!” —
“I am a great mayor; I am an upstanding Christian man; I am an intelligent man; I am a deeply educated man; I am a humble man.”
Report Post »ARSILHOUETTE
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:24pmRobert, I have no clue as to where you got your information, probably from some California educational institution, but I know for a FACT that the blacks did not make up 100% of the deaths in Vietnam. Lincoln WAS a Republican and in the 1600 there was no such thing as Republicans, we were still subjects of England…..you sir are either a moron or a sadly disilusioned indvidual.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:34pmIf this post is what you think and believe, then you’re also an idiot.
Report Post »wesinLR
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:43pmLOL, I’m sorry its not right to laugh at mentally challenged people. But sometimes they are so stupid I cant help it… LOL
Report Post »wesinLR
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:50pm“more than 100%” ??? lol i guess math and history are not your strong points…
Report Post »Boomer52
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:04pmHUH?!?!?!?!? ” more than 100% of which were black”
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 7:01amHey Robert, you can educate the ignorant but you can’t fix stupid. How do you kill over 100% and where did you get the info that they were all black?
I served in RVN and some of my dead friends would be surprised that they were black.
Lincoln was a Republican and the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves only in the CSA it did not free slaves in the border states (MD, DE, KY etc).
Then in the 60s LBJ signed the welfare laws and further enslaved to black man. He knew what he was doing when he stated “I’ll have these ni**ers voting democrat for the next 200 years”.
Do you homework.
OMG
Report Post »draydaniels
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 8:29amRobert’s post has to be a joke of some kind. Nobody can be that stupid and still have the ability to read and write.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 10:34amObviously educated in California where 50% is considered a passing grade (seriously). I’m surprised you have the capability to type…then again, it doesn’t require opposable thumbs to do so. Did you spend half the day getting your ignorance up on the Blaze?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:02pm‘Economically Confident?’ Is that another BS, PC word for “you think you will get some money, so you charge up your credit card?” Sounds like my moochy, out of a job, brother-in-law who has been sleeping on my couch for the past year.
Report Post »robert
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:02pm“In fact, out of all the areas surveyed, the only place with a high confidence rating (the District of Columbia) isn’t even a state!”
And could it be because they’re on the same level of intelligence as Marion Barry, the ex-Mayor, who said:
“The contagious people of Washington have stood firm against diversity during this long period of increment weather.” — M. Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC
“I promise you a police car on every sidewalk.“ ”If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very very low crime rate.” –”First, it was not a strip bar, it was an erotic club. And second, what can I say? I’m a night owl.“ ”Bitch set me up.” — M. Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC
“I am clearly more popular than Reagan. I am in my third term. Where’s Reagan? Gone after two! Defeated by George Bush and Michael Dukakis no less.” — “The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist.” — M. Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC
“I am making this trip to Africa because Washington is an international city, just like Tokyo, Nigeria or Israel. As mayor, I am an international symbol. Can you deny that to Africa?” — “People have criticized me because my security detail is larger than the president’s. But you must ask yourself: are there more people who want to kill me than who want to kill the president? I can assure you there are.” —
continued below
Report Post »robert
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:03pm“The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice.“ ”I read a funny story about how the Republicans freed the slaves. The Republicans are the ones who created slavery by law in the 1600′s. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and he was not a Republican.” –”What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?” –
“People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn’t break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then? WOULD IT!?!” —
“I am a great mayor; I am an upstanding Christian man; I am an intelligent man; I am a deeply educated man; I am a humble man.”
Report Post »djp70124
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:04pmGood move quoting a convicted crackhead. Also Kawame Killpatrick (convicted Detroit mayor) had a bigger “possie” than any mayor. The southern democrats (Dixiecrats) were the proslave group and KKK was filled with democrats. Do your homework.
Report Post »TommyJH54
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:53pmI’m sorry, did I miss the color code for the breakdown of this map?
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:03pmWhat a crock!
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:49pmThat is funny that VA is one of those states. Half of the lower part of VA works in NC
Report Post »kevinj319
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:45pmThe map The Blaze is showing is the overall well-being map, not the economic confidence map. Wrong map.
Report Post »thewatcher93
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:48pmThen email them and tell them.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:30pmIt‘s funny how there’s a direct correlation between BEING economically confident, receiving more federal assistance than one’s states pays federal taxes.
In other words, the states that FEEL they are the best off economically, are the ones RECEIVING the most federal assistance, probably because they are the most proportionally impoverished ones–and in an ironic turn of coincidence, these same states ALSO tend to be the ones that vote solidly Republican, lol, what does that say about American politics?
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:40pmI have heard this talking point put forth by several on the left now. I cannot verify these assertions. Do you have a source? I mean besides MSNBC.
Report Post »dissent
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:47pmThey don’t have sources 338, in fact, this “fact” appears to be completely fabricated. Looking at actual numbers and breaking the country down by congressional district, those that receive the most federal assistance are very solidly blue. But, the ******* rank and file won’t bother checking it, they’ve now been programmed with this talking point and will run around parroting it like the mindless imbeciles they are.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:08pm….3rdarchie want a *******??
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:15pmOffensive buzzer sound indicating an incorrect answer, dissent. Thanks for playing though, you are awarded the booby prize.
Report Post »Skee
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:32pm@ third archon,
Report Post »Your assumptions about these states have no bases.
Nebraska from where I’m from has an unemployment rate of 5.4%
South Dakota tucked away money during the good times and
unemployment is below average. North Dakota has the Bakkan formation
which thank God it’s on private land. Basically all the dark green states
are the ones that had their house in order and yes they are red states.
Ignorance is bliss.
Ravings of a lunatic planet
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:42pmInteresting. I live in Maryland and it is true about DC. I have to hire an Administrative Assistant and I was looking through the help wanted ads to see how many openings there were within my area. It is frigging unbelievable how many jobs are available for this type of position. I bet it takes me forever to find someone. Even starting out at $18.00 an hour it is going to be tough going………….just thought I’d vent.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:59pmMy daughter and her boyfriend live in Arlington, VA. Every time We visit them, I can’t get over the building taking place, all around DC. They get upset and defensive when I refer to that area as a Cesspool. I can‘t wait for the Dept’s of No New Energy, Miseducation,, Inferior, Homeland Insecurity and others to be disbanded . Think of all the money that wouldn’t be laundered by the DC thieves..
Report Post »Ravings of a lunatic planet
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:18pmLOL, I agree with you 100%!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:41pmYawn ….
Wake me up when the majority of people in this country actually care that we’re currently all about “managing the decline”.
So many people don’t care and worse, the guy on “our” side that is going to be our nominee isn’t a true conservative; actually, not even close. We’re supposed to put our faith in a man that will not call a Marxist a Marxist? How can this idiot expect to solve the Obama problem if he’s afraid to define it?
We’re toast, people.
Report Post »fidel1234
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:04pmYou got that right brother,we are toast,it is each man or woman for their self.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:20pmWhen I read any Gallup or Rasmussen or any other poll, I usually just reverse the results for a true reading!
Report Post »redbourn
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:40pmIn spite of the fact that Rasmussen was within about 2% of predicting an Obama win in 2008
Polls vary a lot but if you automatically choose the opposite then you’re in for a real beating.
Maybe you like it? ;-)
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:20pmThe REAL story here is the disconnect between D.C. and the rest of the nation. Take a look at the difference even between D.C. (the “state” that is most optimistic) and 2nd place!! They are completely delusional and totally insulated from reality.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:26pmMassachusetts is right up there too. It‘s easy to be confident when you’re spending someone else’s money.
Report Post »Ivehadenoughtofthisgovenmentcrap
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:40amYa or if you are Johnson and Johnson. Thier pres. sold out to Berry O. the day after he took office. The elite look out for them selfs…..screw the employee’s…..
Report Post »Conservative_T-Rex
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:17pmFunny how North Dakota shot to the top of the list after they started drilling for oil!!!
Report Post »dcraw21b
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 4:30pmNo kidding. Drill baby drill!!!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:15pmWell of course Hawaii is economically confident, they’re in Asia! Right Barry?
Report Post »T-2
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:20pmit’s the 58th state
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:14pmNumber one is DC……on our dime!…Economically confident..ya right
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:19pmThey are confident that if we don’t send them money they will come and get it.
Report Post »mils
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:28pmwell he drug trade does pay off in many ways i suppose…
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 5:39pmCATB..ha ha!
Report Post »