* Majorities in all six countries are pessimistic about the economic status of their country. Over four in five French adults (83%), three-quarters of Italians (74%), 70% of both Britons and Spaniards, and 63% of Germans all say they are pessimistic about their country’s economic status. Americans are a bit more divided as 52% are pessimistic while 48% are optimistic;
* Majorities in France (63%), Italy (62%), Spain (59%), Great Britain (58%) and Germany (52%) are also pessimistic about their own economic situation. Americans are of an opposite mind from their European counterparts as a majority (54%) are actually optimistic about their own economic situation;
* Thinking about the year that is coming to a close, 2008 was not a very good year for adults in these six countries. Almost half of Americans (47%), 43% of Italians, two in five Britons (39%), and 38% of both Spanish and French adults all say that, regarding their personal situation, 2008 has been a negative year. Germans are very split on how 2008 has been – 35% say it has been a positive year, 33% say it has been neither a negative nor positive year and 31% of Germans say 2008 was a negative year;
* Looking at the most significant events of the past year, two really rise to the top when people are asked to pick the top three. At least three-quarters of adults in each of the six countries say it was the stock exchange/banking/financial crisis and at least seven in ten in each country say it was the election of Barack Obama in the United States; and,
* When it comes to the most significant event for people personally in 2008, strong majorities in Spain (81%), Great Britain (67%), Italy (58%) and France (57%) say it was the stock exchange/banking/ financial crisis. While half of adults in Germany (49%) and the United States (49%) also say the financial crisis was the most significant for them personally, 44% of Americans and 35% of Germans also say it was the election of Barack Obama.
So What?
As 2008 draws to a close, it is clear that the one major issue of the past year is the financial crisis around the globe. People in these six countries are pessimistic about what has been, about their country’s economic situation and about their personal situation. The crisis is also the most significant event of the year – a year that had some dramatic events occurring during its 12 months. Americans, however, are seeing a small ray of hope. With the election of Barack Obama, they are hoping that things will get better and he will have a window of opportunity during his first few months in office to make these changes. How much time Americans will give him is yet to be known.
