12/31 News: 2009 In America

Poll: Americans Largely Agree 2009 Was A Bad Year

For all their differences, Americans largely agree on two things: 2009 was a lousy year for the nation, and 2010 is likely to be better. Nearly three-fourths of Americans think 2009 was a bad year for the country, which was rocked by job losses, home foreclosures and economic sickness. Forty-two percent rated it “very bad,” according to the latest AP-GfK poll. That's worse than in 2006, the last time a similar poll was taken. The survey that year found that 58 percent of Americans felt the nation had suffered a bad year, and 39 percent considered it a good year. Fewer than half as many people, 16 percent, said their family had a “very good year” in 2009 as said that in 2006.

Even though most said it was a bad year for the country, three in five Americans said their own family had a good year in 2009, while about two in five called it a bad year. Some 72 percent of Americans said they’re optimistic about what 2010 will bring for the country. Even more, four in five, are optimistic about what the year will bring for their families. Curiously, however, nearly two-thirds think their family finances will worsen or stay about the same next year.

Partisan differences too: only 10 percent of Republicans said 2009 was a good year, compared to about one-third of Democrats and independents. A whopping 87 percent of Democrats are optimistic about what 2010 will bring for the country, compared with 53 percent of Republicans and 73 percent of independents. People’s views of their personal circumstances divide along partisan lines, too. Only one in five Republicans think their family’s finances will improve in 2010. Nearly half of Democrats and 40 percent of independents hold that view.

Jobless Claims Fall To Lowest Level Since 2008

The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week, a possible sign the job market is healing as the economy slowly recovers. New jobless claims have dropped steadily since September, raising hopes that the economy may soon begin creating jobs and the unemployment rate could decline. Analysts cautioned that the weekly data could be artificially low due to seasonal factors, such as the Christmas holiday and recent snowstorms.

Dow Finishes 2009 With Nearly 19% Gain

A late burst of selling left stocks with a hefty loss today at the end of what was otherwise a banner year, highlighted by the biggest annual percentage gain in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in six years. The blue-chip measure ended 2009 with an 18.8% gain, though it is still down 26.4% from its all-time record set in October 2007.