ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to the financial future, there is a sense of short-term optimism and long-term concern among U.S. adults. Three in five (60%) say financially, this year is better than last year and slightly higher percentages (64%) say that next year their financial situation will be better and more secure than it is this year. Looking to the future, over half (56%) of adults worry about their financial future more often today than in the past year and 61 percent do not know what their financial needs are going to be in the future. Looking specifically to retirement, almost half (48%) are confident they will have enough money to live as well then as they do now.

These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,021 U.S. adults conducted online between February 23 and 27, 2007 by Harris Interactive(R). This data was also presented at the National Chamber Foundation Board Annual Meeting on March 5, 2007.

When asked to choose the most important concern they have today about their financial future, almost half (48%) of adults say it is being able to afford the cost of living, followed by having enough savings for retirement (40%). Three in 10 (31%) say the most important concern is being uncertain about things that could affect their family finances in the future and just under one-quarter (22%) cite having enough money to pay for their family's healthcare needs. One in five (19%) are concerned about saving for long-term care for themselves or their family, 11 percent cite being able to afford the cost of college for themselves or their family and just eight percent say none of these are concerns they have about their financial future.

When it comes to concerns about current financial issues, the most pressing is cash on hand. Six in 10 adults (61%) say they are concerned that they don't have enough money. This leads into the two in five (44%) who are concerned they may not be able to keep a job that will pay them enough. One issue may be financial management, as about half (49%) of adults say they are concerned they have not paid enough attention to managing their finances as they should have and 48 percent are concerned they don't know enough about financial planning.

There is definitely a difference in opinion on this topic depending on income group membership. Across the board, those who have a lower household income (of less than $35,000 a year) are more likely to be concerned about financial issues, while those who have a higher household income ($75,000 and above) are less likely to be concerned. The interesting group is those who are in the middle with a household income of between $35,000 and $74,999 a year.

When it comes to certain financial attitudes, such as believing their financial situation will be better and more secure next year than it is this year, this middle income group falls right in the middle (57% lower income, 67% middle income, 75% higher income group). However, for more items, they tend to align more closely with the lower income group. For example, 64 percent of the lower group and 60 percent of the middle income group say they worry a great deal about their financial future more often today than in the last year, compared to 45 percent of the upper income group.

When it comes to specific financial concerns, having enough savings for retirement is most important for the upper income group (44%), while the middle income and lower income groups both cite being able to afford the cost of living as the most important concern (49% and 63% respectively). The more money one has, the more opportunity one has to enjoy life in the future.

There are also some broad issues that worry the American public. Three- quarters (74%) of adults are concerned that society is making rich people richer while it is getting harder for working people to make a living. The U.S. economy is also a cause for alarm, as two-thirds of adults (66%) are concerned that something will go wrong with the U.S. economy. Of note, this survey was conducted before the recent volatility in the financial markets.

The federal government is also a cause for concern for adults. While more than two-thirds (69%) are concerned that the government will take away benefits for things like retirement, the highest level of concern is reserved for political leaders. More than eight in 10 (84%) adults do not trust political leaders to solve the problems with our country's healthcare and retirement systems.

While most of the concerns are different for these groups, there are two that are very similar. First, all three groups are concerned that something will go wrong with the U.S. economy (60% upper income group, 67% middle income group, 69% lower income group). Second, more than eight in 10 of all three groups do not trust political leaders to solve the healthcare and retirement problems (82% upper income group, 86% middle income group, 83% lower income group). It appears that some things are truly universal concerns.

TABLE 1 FINANCIAL ATTITUDES "How strongly so you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?" Base: All adults AGREE Strongly DISAGREE Strongly Not (Net) agree Agree (NET) Disagree Disagree Sure % % % % % % % I believe that my financial situation will be better and more secure next year than it is this year. 64 24 40 23 16 7 13 I don't know what my financial needs are going to be in the future. 61 24 37 33 24 9 6 My financial situation is better this year than it was last year. 60 25 35 35 22 13 5 I worry a great deal about my financial future more often today than in the past year. 56 25 31 39 26 13 5 I am confident that I will have enough money to live as well as I do now when I am retired. 48 19 29 39 25 14 13 Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. TABLE 2 FINANCIAL ATTITUDES - BY INCOME "How strongly so you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?" Those Saying "Strongly/Somewhat Agree" Base: All adults Income Less Total than $35K- $35K $74.9K $75K+ % % % % I believe that my financial situation will be better and more secure next year than it is this year. 64 57 67 75 I don't know what my financial needs are going to be in the future. 61 74 66 41 My financial situation is better this year than it was last year. 60 47 65 76 I worry a great deal about my financial future more often today than in the past year. 56 64 60 45 I am confident that I will have enough money to live as well as I do now when I am retired. 48 36 46 66 Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. TABLE 3 MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL CONCERN "Which of the following are the most important concerns you have today about your financial future? While all of these may be important, please choose no more than two responses." Base: All adults Income Less Total than $35K- $35K $74.9 $75K+ % % % % Being able to afford the cost of living 48 63 49 26 Having enough savings for retirement 40 36 43 44 Being uncertain about things that could affect my family finances in the future 31 29 32 29 Having enough money to pay for my family's healthcare needs 22 24 24 23 Saving for long term care for myself or my family 19 16 16 25 Being able to afford the cost of college for myself or my family 11 6 10 14 None of these are concerns I have today about my financial future 8 6 7 12 Note: Multiple Response. TABLE 4 FINANCIAL CONCERNS "There are many reasons why people may or may not feel good about their financial situation. Looking at the issues below, please indicate how much of a concern each issue is for you." Base: All adults Extremely Somewhat NOT A Not a CONCERN Important Important CONCERN Minor Concern Not (NET) Concern Concern (NET) Concern at all Sure % % % % % % % I don't trust our political leaders to solve the problems with our country's healthcare and retirement systems. 84 54 29 12 8 4 4 Our society is making rich people richer while it's getting harder for working people to make a living. 74 48 26 21 11 10 5 I am worried that the government will take away benefits for things like retirement. 69 40 30 27 16 11 4 I am worried that something will go wrong with the U.S. economy. 66 30 36 30 21 9 5 I don't have enough money. 61 31 29 35 23 12 4 The future is too uncertain. 60 24 36 36 25 11 4 I have not paid enough attention to managing my finances as I should have. 49 17 32 46 25 21 5 I don't know enough about financial planning. 48 15 33 47 26 21 5 I am worried that I might not be able to keep a job that will pay enough. 44 20 24 50 19 31 6 Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. TABLE 5 FINANCIAL CONCERNS - BY INCOME "There are many reasons why people may or may not feel good about their financial situation. Looking at the issues below, please indicate how much of a concern each issue is for you." Those saying "Extremely/Somewhat Important Concern" Base: All adults Income Total Less than $35K - $75K+ $35K $74.9K % % % % I don't trust our political leaders to solve the problems with our country's healthcare and retirement systems. 84 83 86 82 Our society is making rich people richer while it's getting harder for working people to make a living. 74 83 82 59 I am worried that the government will take away benefits for things like retirement. 69 73 76 60 I am worried that something will go wrong with the U.S. economy. 66 69 67 60 I don't have enough money. 61 79 68 40 The future is too uncertain. 60 67 66 45 I have not paid enough attention to managing my finances as I should have. 49 57 58 37 I don't know enough about financial planning. 48 55 53 35 I am worried that I might not be able to keep a job that will pay enough. 44 54 48 33 Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Methodology

This Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between February 23 and 27, 2007, among 2,021 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,021 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- two percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

J29950 Q805, 810, 815 About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.

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Press Contact: Tracey McNerney Harris Interactive 585-214-7756 Harris Interactive Inc. 3/07 The Harris Poll (R)#22, March 14, 2007 By Regina Corso, Director, The Harris Poll

CONTACT: Tracey McNerney of Harris Interactive, +1-585-214-7756

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