Continued support for stimulus
Last month, nearly six in 10 people (59%) said they approved of the December 2020 stimulus package passed by Congress. This month, even more—72%—approve of President Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which would provide federal support to individuals and businesses impacted by the coronavirus.
Nearly all Democrats and Democratic leaners (97%), more than three-quarters of independents (76%), and more than four in 10 Republicans and GOP leaners (43%) approve of the proposal.
Still, the country is split between those who think the stimulus will “be too big, driving up the federal deficit” (47%) and those who worry it will “be too small, preventing economic growth now” (48%). Republicans and Democrats are mirror images of each other on this issue: 77% of Republicans are worried the stimulus will be too big, while 72% of Democrats are more worried it will be too small. Independents tilt more towards concern that the extra federal spending will be too small (51%) rather than too big (43%).
The three key components in Biden’s proposed plan are all considered to be important by at least 80% of people. Money for COVID-19 vaccine distribution is considered “very important” by 65% of people nationwide, including 44% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats, and 74% of those 65 and older.
Money for $1,400 stimulus checks and for schools and state and local governments is considered “very important” among 57% of the public.
Biden presidency begins with low economic confidence
Fewer than one in five people in the U.S.—19%, the lowest ever in the more than four years of the survey—now say they are “better off” financially now than they were a year ago. That’s down significantly from 27% in January, but the drop is entirely attributable to a crash among Republicans: 45% of Republicans in January but just 19% in February said they are better off than they were a year ago. On the other hand, Democrats’ scores increased month-over-month, from 13% in January to 21% in February.
The consumer confidence index held steady at a score of 45 this month. Republicans’ score fell again this month, down to a score of 30 from 38 last month. Democrats’ confidence index score increased again this month, reaching a score of 59—a new high.
For more detailed results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
