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Harris Poll Finds Personal Optimism Higher
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A new Harris Poll finds an increase in personal optimism since last year, and that more people say that their personal situations have been improving.In April 2003, 49% of adults said that their personal situation had improved over the previous five years. This year, 56% gave this answer.In April last year, 21% said their situation became worse in the previous five years. In this year's survey, only 16% felt that way.Last year, 63% expected their personal situation would improve in the next five years, while in April of this year, fully 68% expected their lives to improve.There has also been a small increase in "life satisfaction" -- those who are satisfied with their lives, rising from 91% to 93%, and those who are very satisfied, increasing from 57% to 59%. However, these small changes could be the result of sampling error and may not reflect real changes.The survey also found some quite big differences between different segments of the population, particularly by age, and by race or ethnicity:Older people are generally more satisfied with their lives than younger adults (and those under 25 are the least satisfied), according to the poll. However, those who have seen an improvement in their lives fall from over 70% among those under 30 to only 27% of those 65 and older. And those who expect their lives to improve fall from 93% of those under 25 to only 23% of those over 65.Hispanics are less likely to be very satisfied with their lives (46% compared to 60% for whites and 61% for African Americans). But Hispanics are the most likely to say their lives have improved (68% compared to 54% for whites and 56% for blacks). And they, and African Americans (both 86%) are more likely to be optimistic than whites (62%) about the next five years.Harris Interactive is a worldwide market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll.Visit Harris Interactive: www.harrisinteractive.com"