Americans Expect Modest Changes to Personal Finances in 2013

Washington, DC, February 07, 2013 --(PR.com)-- When it comes to personal finances, most Americans expect little, if any, changes this year. MPO Research Group asked Americans to predict how their personal financial situation will change this year and found that 27.1% of respondents say they expect no changes. 26.6% expect a modest improvement and 20.9% expect a modest decline. 11% of respondents are expecting a significant improvement, while 14.4% expect a significant decline.

Gender

Women are more optimistic about their financial futures than men are: 11.7% of women expect a significant improvement and 33% expect modest improvements, compared to 10.3% of men expecting significant improvements and 20.2% expect modest improvements. Men are much more pessimistic: 17% expect a significant decline (compared to 11.7% of women) and 22.7% expect a modest decline (compared to 19.1% of women).

Age

Younger people are most likely to expect significant improvements: 36.4% of those 18-19, 20.4% aged 20-29 and 18.5% 30-39 are very optimistic regarding their financial futures. Only 9% of those 40-49, 8.3% aged 50-59 and 7.9% aged 60+ expect significant improvements.

Respondents between 30 and 39 are the most likely to expect a change: only 12.3% think their finances will stay the same, compared to 36.4% aged 18-19, 28.6% aged 20-29, 24.4% aged 40-49, 34.2% aged 50-59 and 27.8% aged 60+.
Respondents aged 40-49 are the most pessimistic overall: 33.3% expect a modest decline and 17.9% expect a significant decline.

Ethnicity

African American are by far the most optimistic ethnic group: 31.1% expect a significant improvement compared to 16.3% of Hispanics, 15.4% of Asian Americans and 7.1% of Caucasians.

African Americans are the least pessimistic too: only 8.9% expect a significant decline and 2.2% expect a modest decline. Caucasians are the most pessimistic: 14.7% expect a significant decline and 23% expect a modest decline. 14% of Hispanics and 15.4% of Asians expect a significant decline, 16.3% of Hispanics and 15.4% of Asians expect a modest decline.

Surveys are conducted by MPO from a national panel of over 5,000 randomly selected individuals in the United States, accurately reflecting all backgrounds in terms of age, education, ethnicity, gender and political affiliation. MPO is a self-funded, independent and non-partisan research and news organization. News stories from its monthly research surveys can be found on www.mpopost.com.

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