Welcome to this week’s edition of Top Question Tuesday. Last week’s winning question asked what type of news you pay most attention to.We’ll put this question on an upcoming interactive survey and blog about the results soon.

This week’s user-submitted survey questions are below. The questions are shortened to save space on our blog post, but these are the basic ideas. Take a look though and then vote for which question you’d most like to see on the next Zogby Interactive survey. As a reminder, if you’d like to submit a question to be considered for a Zogby survey, use the “contact us” box on the right of the page. And if you’d like to join Zogby’s interactive panel to answer questions similar to these, click here.

1. How has your use of public libraries changed over the last year – has your use increased, decreased, stayed the same, or do you not use your public library?

2.  When deciding whether and where to take a vacation, what is the most important factor in your decision – cost, location, distance from  your home, attractions at vacation site, or something else?

3. Do you pay more, less, or about the same amount of attention to local political races (such as mayoral elections) compared to  national political races(such as the presidential election)?

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Katy Uncategorized elections, libraries, race, Top Question Tuesday, vacation, zogby

With the economy in a slump (the New York Times today announced that the US economy is in the 2nd straight quarter of steep decline), what are your plans for summer vacation? Will you still take one? Where will you go? How much will you spend? What will you  buy?  How else will the economy affect (or not affect) your summer vacation plans?

Katy economics, lifestyles, recreation, travel economy, leisure, lifestyles, summer, vacation

Top Question Tuesday continues to be a favorite feature of our blog. Last week’s winning question asked about whether the War on Drugs has been effective or not effective in reducing drug use. We’ll put this question on a future Zogby Interactive survey and blog about the results soon!

This week’s user-submitted survey questions are below. The questions are shortened to save space on our blog post, but these are the basic ideas. Take a look though and then vote for which question you’d most like to see on the next Zogby Interactive survey. As a reminder, if you’d like to submit a question to be considered for a Zogby survey (and we hope you do!), use the “contact us” box on the right of the page. And if you’d like to join Zogby’s interactive panel to answer questions similar to these, click here.

Which question would you most like to see on the next Zogby Interactive poll?

1. How concerned would you be if the local newspaper in your area were to stop publication?

2. How have your vacation plans been impacted by the economic downturn, or have they not been impacted?

3. Who do you trust on economic matters – academic economists, the government, the media, investment professionals, friends and family,  or none of these?

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Katy methodology drugs, future, media, Top Question Tuesday, vacation, war, war on drugs, zogby

In the past year, many Americans have faced a new economy filled with pink slips, pay cuts, or constant worry about their investment losses. As uncertainty about the nation’s economic situation grows, many have reacted by making some big changes in where they spend their money.

The first to go, nearly across the board, has been the “gravy” in household budgets – the meals out, trips to the movies, and other entertainment and recreation spending. Our latest survey found 70% have cut back on their entertainment expenses – another 40% have changed or canceled their vacation plans and 40% have put off a major purchase such as a new car, electronics or a computer.

Even as many Americans learn to make do without upgrading to the latest electronic gadget or find less expensive or free entertainment alternatives, others have had to make cuts to more essential areas of their budgets, including grocery spending (40%), medical care (16%) and education (9%).

Thinking about your personal financial situation, have the current conditions in the U.S. economy caused you to cut back on your spending in any of these areas? When you think about your own household budget, what’s the first thing to go if you need to cut back?

Steph consumption, economics, lifestyles economy, education, electronics, entertainment, recreation, vacation