Americans Turn Negative on Economy, Expect Recession, Poll Says

By Matthew Benjamin, Bloomberg

Oct. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Almost two-thirds of Americans say a recession is likely in the next year and a majority believes the economy is already faltering, according to a Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times survey.

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By 65 percent to 29 percent, Americans say they expect a recession, the poll found. Fifty-one percent say the economy is doing poorly, compared with 46 percent who say it is doing well, the gloomiest view since February 2003.

The negative sentiment on the economy contrasts with a June poll in which 57 percent of respondents said it was doing well. The pessimistic turn comes just before the Federal Reserve meets next week to decide whether to further reduce interest rates to try to head off a possible recession. The poll results square with the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer index, which showed confidence in October at its lowest ebb since August 2006.

``I'm starting to think there's a good possibility of recession,'' said poll respondent Roger Sharp, a retired procurement analyst in Milwaukie, Oregon. ``The housing industry is driving the economy down and people are starting to get laid off from jobs that have been around for a long time,'' said Sharp, 63, a registered Republican.

The poll brought bad news for his party: By 44 percent to 33 percent, Americans say Democrats would be better than Republicans at restarting growth should a recession occur.

Tax Cuts Opposed

Moreover, Republicans seem to be losing the anti-tax card that has helped them win elections over more than a quarter- century. A majority of poll respondents oppose leading Republican presidential candidates' plans to cut taxes on corporate profits and maintain lower rates on investment income such as capital gains and dividends.

A majority of Americans also say they would tolerate higher taxes to help pay for universal health care, an idea that all the leading Democratic hopefuls have championed. And about two in three say they haven't benefited from the tax cuts President George W. Bush pushed through Congress during his first term. .....

Critical of Congress

The mood among voters is sour. Sixty-eight percent of the public says the country is ``seriously off on the wrong track.'' Bush's job performance is viewed negatively by 60 percent of voters....

The number of all Americans who expect a recession has risen 5 percentage points since April, when 60 percent of those polled said it is likely within a year.

More than one in five respondents to the latest poll call a recession very likely, while more than two in five say somewhat likely. Only 9 percent say a recession within a year isn't at all likely. Even a majority of Republicans, who were much more sanguine about the economy than Democrats, say a recession is likely. Women are more bearish than men, with 73 percent saying they expect a recession versus 56 percent of men....

Taxing Investment Income

Fewer than half say investment income should be taxed at the same rate as wages. Currently, the rate on capital gains and dividends is 15 percent, less than half the 37.9 percent top rate on wages and salaries. About 16 percent of those polled say investment income tax rates should be raised, while slightly more favor keeping rates on such income lower than earned income.

All of the major Republican presidential hopefuls have committed to maintaining the lower rate on investment income, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has proposed eliminating the tax for middle-class Americans.

Americans were closely divided over how to address the crisis among subprime mortgage holders who are in danger of defaulting. Some respondents want federal housing authorities to help delinquent homeowners refinance their loans; others say Congress should impose new regulations; 28 percent say nothing should be done or the market should be allowed to correct itself.

Americans have also lost some faith in Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, with only 38 percent saying they approve of how he's handling his job, down from 50 percent in March.