In addition to pessimism about personal finances and the national economy at the start of the new year, 70% say the nation is moving in the wrong direction. The Zogby Interactive survey of 3,498 likely voters was conducted Jan. 6-8, 2009 and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.6%.

Here is a fuller picture of the national mood that will greet President-Elect Barack Obama:

22% Feeling Job Insecurity

Job insecurity is felt by 22% of voters, with 11% saying they are not very secure in their current job and another 11% who are not secure at all. Those who felt very secure numbered 30%, and 26% feel fairly secure. In a sign that education isn't guaranteeing economic peace of mind, voters with college degrees were only slightly less likely to cite job insecurity than were those with no degree. That is further reflected in the 17% of those with household incomes of more than $100,000 who express little or no security in their current job.

One in five voters (20%) rates their personal financial situation as poor. Only 4% say excellent and 31% good. Even for those with family incomes between $50,000 and $75,000, 22% give their personal financial situation a poor rating.

In a clear sign that voters see the U.S. economy in long-term decline, less than one-half of voters with children express confidence that their offspring will have a better life than they have.

How confident are you that your children will have a better life than you?	%
Very	14
Fairly	31
Not Very	29
Not At All	13
Not Sure/No Children	13

70% Say Nation Headed in Wrong Direction

Our survey included two measures of how voters feel about the nation's economic condition, and it shows that the vast majority of likely voters (75%) give the performance of U.S. economic policy a poor rating, while just 14% believe the nation is moving in the right direction.

For a methodology statement on this poll, please visit:

http://www.zogby.com/methodology/readmeth.cfm?ID=1384