More Americans Say They Are Better Off Financially Than They Were A Year Ago

Gallup polling announced today that for the first time in five years, more Americans say they’re better off financially now than they were a year ago.

In the poll, 38 percent say their economic situation has improved, and 34 percent say it’s worse, while 26 percent say it’s the same.

That may not sound that great, but it’s the same proportion who said they were better off at this time of year in 2004, when President Bush won reelection, and in 1984, when Ronald Reagan won re-election after a deep recession.

How people answered the question was greatly influenced by whether they identify as Democrats or Republicans, just as the Courant saw in its own poll that asked ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?”

Among Democrats, 62 percent said they were better off, and 55 percent of Republicans said they were worse off.