I?.i.J lxejei?.s Eagleton nshtute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey /82S-2210 POLL

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1 RELEASE INFORMATION OR JANICE BALLOC RELEASE: SL/EP 374 (EP 87.4) CONTACT: KEN DAIJTRICII EMBARGOED NOT FOR RELEASE UNTIL: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23,.1992 I?.i.J lxejei?.s Eagleton nshtute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey /82S2210 TE 5TAT UNPv!PSflV cc NB JERV Audio is available after 5:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 22, 1992, from (908) (Rutgers Feature Phone). KENTION RADIO STATIONS: more Fewer state residents plan to make a purchase of these items in the next six months. household member will buy a household durable item. next six months, onequarter say that someone will buy an automobile, and 2in5 say a Eight percent of New Jerseyans say that someone in their household will buy a house in the 4inlO, however, describe now as a good time to buy household consumer durables such as a good time to buy a house, and more than half say it is a good time to buy a car. Only about to purchase big ticket items like a house or automobile. Fully threequarters feel that now is out of work and actively seeking a job in the past year, and oneinfive report that an More than onethird of New Jerseyans say that an adult in their household has been adults between January 20 and 27, 1992, also finds that among New Jerseyans who are unemployed adult in their household is currently looking for a job. employed, more than fourinten are concerned about losing their job over the next year. The survey also finds that a majority of state residents feel that now is a good time The latest StarLedger/Eagleton Poll, conducted by telephone with 800 New Jersey furniture or appliances. AND DURABLE GOODS MARKETS CONSUMERS ASSESS HOUSING, AUTOMOBILE UNEMPLOYMENT HITS MANY NJ HOUSEHOLDS; media may release after 5:00 P.M. Saturday, February 22, We ask users to properly attribute this copyrighted information to The StarLedger/Eag]eton Poll. Sundays StarLedger. Other newspapers may also use this information in their Sunday editions. Electronic A story based on the survey findings presented in this release and backizround memo will appear in POLL

2 their household has been unemployed and actively seeking a job. This 36 percent includes 21 ThirtvsL percent of New Jersey residents say that within the past year an adult in UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW JEJ?SEy more responsible for making sure that people have jobs, while onequarter feel most responsibility Onethird of state residents say that the federal government should be most WHO SHOULD BE MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING JOBS? their job. family incomes under $30,000 are very (44%) or somewhat (13%) concerned about keeping (23%) concerned about losing their job in the next year and nearly 6inlO residents with concerned about their job security. Twothirds of nonwhites are very (45%) or somewhat 56 percent are not too concerned about keeping their job. Two groups are particularly yen (24%) or somewhat (19%) concerned about losing their job over the next year, while More than 4iniD state residents who are currently employed report being either PERSONAL CONCERN ABOUT LOSING ONE S JOB (47%) of households with incomes from $20,000 to less than $30,000 report an adult being household has been out of work and looking for a job in the past year. Also, nearly half unemployed in the last year. 52 percent of nonwhite residents and half of those 18 to 29 years old say an adult in their Unemployment has taken its largest toll on younger and nonwhite households. Fully how the recession has slowed the state s economy. problem of unemployment has touched many households in New Jersey, and is another sign of Ken Dautrich, the Poll s Associate Director commented, The po 11 shows that the adult who was unemployed in their household did find a job. percent who say the unemployed person has not yet found a job, and 15 percent who say the P874 (SL/EP374) Page 2

3 responsible. lies with state government, and lin5 think private business and industry should he most In evaluating how much each is doing to make sure people can have jobs, state house in the next half year. to $50,000 range are most likely (12%) to say that someone in their household will buy a and another 4% in three to six months from now). Those with family incomes in the $30,000 household will actually purchase a house in the next six months (4% in the next three months, A total of 8 percent of New Jerseyans say that either they or someone in their moving, and thus thwarting more buying activity. time to buy is likely a result of the relatively lower interest rates for mortgages. Negative feelings about the sellers market, however, may be preventing homeowners from considering we are experiencing is a very strong buyers market in housing. The feeling that it s a good sell a house in New Jersey, while 85 percent say it is a bad time to sell a house. somewhat tempered by the finding that only 10 percent of residents think it is a good time to house, while only 1in5 say it is a bad time. Positive assessments of the housing market are About threequarters (74%) of New Jerseyans feel that now is a good time to buy a Dautrich commented, The results confirm, from the consumer s perspective, that what NJ CONSUMERS AND THE HOUSING MARKET something (30%), and 33 percent who say the federal government is doing a great deal compared to 35 percent who say private business and industry is doing a great deal (5%) or doing either a great deal (4%) or something (34%) to make sure people can have jobs, same grades by New Jerseyans. Thirtyeight percent say that New Jersey state government is government, the federal government, and private business and industry are given roughly the (4%) or something (29%). EP874 (SL/EP374) Page 3

4 In terms of actual purchase intentions, onequarter of New Jersey residents say that pjj consumers AND THE AUTOMOBILE MARKET automobile, while 36 percent feel it is a bad time. Fiftyfour percent of New Jerseyans say that now is a good time to buy an (7 Copyright, February 23, 1992, The Eagleton Institute and Newark StarLedger. 30 in the next three to six months). major household durable item in the next six months (22% in the next three months, and 18% Forty percent of New Jerseyans say they or someone in their home will purchase a and about half (49%) say it is a bad time to make these purchases. such as furniture and appliances. Fortythree percent say it is a good time to buy these items Fewer New Jerseyans are positive about the market for household consumer durables NJ CONSUMERS AND THE HOUSEHOLD DURABLE GOODS MARKET months (13% within three months, and another 12% in three to six months). either they or someone in their home will purchase a car or small truck over the next sex Eps7 (SL/EP374) Page 4

5 sample of 800 New Jerseyans, 18 years and older, was interviewed by telephone. Figures based on this sample size are subject to a sampling error of about ±3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. BACKGROUND MEMO RELEASE SL/EI 374 (EPS74), SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1992 The latest SturLedger/Eagleton Poll was conducted between January 20 and 27, 1992, when a random Sampling error is the probable difference in results between interviewing everyone in the population versus IiTT(3EI?.S Eagleton Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey /82&2210 T14E STATE UNPT?SflV Q NEW JEPV Nonurban (670) Urban (130) Tiye of community Over $50, (142) $30,001 $50, (202) $20,000 $30, (101) under $20, (105) Family In come White (649) Nonwhite (139) 65 and older (130) (163) (344) ) 100 (148) January, % 21% 64% (800) is.,l/ and Found Job Not Find Job Unemployed Total Unemployed Unemployed No One person find a job or not? [Q.14A/O.14Bj [n the last 12 months, has any adult in your household been out of work and actively looking for a job? Did that release are presented below. The location of each question on the actual questionnaire is in brackets. sources of error inherent in any study of public opinion. The questions and figures referred to in this a scientific sample taken from that population. Sampling error does not take into account other possible She %tartlcbgcr/eagleton POLL

6 Some Little Nothing Know Total ffi How much is (NAME ITEM) doing to make sure that people can have jobsa great deal, some, a little, or nothing C at all? (READ LIST STARTING AT DESIGNATED POINT.) [Q.15] A Great A Don t Over $50, (142) $20,000 $30, S 100 (101) $30,001 $ (202) Under $20, (105) Family Thconie Republican (225) Democrat (193) Independent (350) Party ID January, % 33% 19% 20% 3% 99% (800) Government Government & Industry Combination Know Total ftl NJ State Federai Business Don t the federal government or private business and industry? [Q.16J And, who should be the most responsible for making sure that people can have jobsnew Jersey state government, Private Business & Industry (800) Federal Government (800) New Jersey State Government 4% 34% 34% 19% 9% 100% (800) January, EPS74 (SL/EP374)

7 January, % 49% 4% 4% 100% (800) Iirn Not Bad Know Iiiii La) Good Bad Not Good/ Don t household items? [0.17) television, or things like thatdo you think now is a good time or a bad time for people to buy these major Thinking about major household items people might buy for the homesuch as furniture, a refrigerator, a Over $50, (142) $30,001 $50, (202) S20,000$30, (101) Under $20, (105) Female (400) Male (400) Sex 50 and older (278) (163) (344) January, % 18% 53% 8% 101% (800) 3 Months 3 6 Months No Know Total YesWithin YesIn Don t Do you think that you or someone in your household will purchase a major household item in the next 3 months? (IF NO: How about in the next 6 months? [Q.18j 50 and older (278) (163) (344) $30,001 $20,000 $30,000 $50, (202) (101) Under $20, (105) Over $50, (142) Male (400) Female (400) Sex Nonwhite (139) (649) Race 3 EPS74 (SL/EP374)

8 January, % 20% 2% 4% 100% (799) Time Time Not Bad Know Total Good Bad Not Good! Don t [Q.191 And, thinking about the housing marketdo you think that now is a good time or a bad time to hx a house? Over $50, (142) $30,001 $50, (202) Under $20, (105) $20,000$30, (101) January, % 4% 90% 2% 100% (800) YesWithin YesIn Don t in the next 6 months?) [0.21] Do you think that you or someone in your household will buy a house in the next 3 months? (IF NO: How about January, % 85% 2% 3% 100% (800) Good Bad Not Good/ Don t Time Time Not Bad Know Total And, do you think that now is a good time or bad time to fl a house? [0.20] $30,001 $50, (202) $20,000 $30, Under $20, (105) Over SS0, (142) Female (399) Male (400) Ses White (648) Nonwhite (139) Race Months 3 6 Months No Know Total (101) EF874 (SL/EF374) C)

9 6 January, 1992 Ij Time Not Bad Know Total Good Bad Not Good! Don t Thinking about the automobile marketdo you think now is a good time or a bad time to buy a ear? [Q.22j C Over $50,000 $30,001 $50, $20,000 $30,000 Under $20, (101) (202) (142) (400) (400) 50 and older (278) a January, % 2% 101% (800) Don t Know Ioliil f_al NO: How about in the next 6 months?) [023] Do you think that you or someone in your household will purchase a car or small truck in the next 3 months? (IF (142) (202) (101) (163) (344) (105) Female Male Sex % 74% 3 Months 3 Months YesWithin YesIn Over $50,000 $30,001 $50, (105) (400) 5 99 (400) (649) (139) (60) (250) (490) S ( $20,000 Under $20,000 Female Male Sex White Nonwhite Race More than high school Less than high school Education High school graduate 50 and older 30 a $30, (163) (344) (278) 54% 36% 3% 7% 100% (800) EP874 (SL/EP374) 5

10 How concerned are you that you might become unemployed within the next year? [Q.XD7a] ASKED OF THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED: C Over $50, $30,000 $50, (139) (123) Under $30, % 100 (85) White (422) Nonwhite (89) January, % 19% 56% 99% (520) Concerned Concerned Concerned Know IQiai Very Somewhat Not Too Don t EPS74 (SL/EP374) 6 C