Cliff’s Take: Can Reality Live Up To Expectations?
All indicators right now point to “go.” Americans have never been more optimistic about their financial futures, and many are busy planning social, active summers.
But the recent April jobs report suggests that we shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves. Jobs growth was much slower than projected, and unemployment is stuck at 6.1%. Our rebound might be slower than hoped.
We may also be reaching our vaccine saturation point, where all Americans willing to get the vaccine have done so already. About 25% of Americans are hesitant. But perhaps they can be convinced? That’s a big maybe.
Sunny skies today with storm clouds on the horizon. This is our COVID (or soon to be post-COVID) world.
Below, I detail the most relevant polling data of the week:
- Optimism is sky high. Optimism about our financial and economic future has never been higher. Look at the data! In part, this reflects how bad things got over the past year— compared to what came before, it can only be up from here, right? Yet, it’s possible that the pandemic economy still has a few more surprises. We’ll see.
- Push to reopen. Many Americans believe that we are in for a quick rebound whenever pandemic restrictions are lifted, but with unemployment holding at 6.1%, we’ll see if these expectations live up to reality.
- Red and blue lenses. How Americans feel about reopening is still conditioned by their party affiliation. Democrats are much more cautious than Republicans. That said, Americans of both the Red and Blue varieties believe in the possibility of a rapid recovery. Politics divides us, and so do perceptions of COVID risk. But we all want a better future.
- Vaccine holdouts. America has done an outstanding job on vaccine distribution so far, but all good things must come to an end. Many argue that we have reached the vaccine saturation point, where only the holdouts, or “hesitants,” remain unvaccinated. Will the reluctance of the few hold back the optimism of the many? We will see.
- In local we trust. This last year has been one of division and partisanship, but it’s important to remember as well that we trust what we can see and hear. Americans favor the local over the national. Makes sense, right?
We are in a much better place now than we were even just three months ago. With so many vaccinated, the US is much safer now. But while progress around vaccines has been smooth, that stubborn hesitancy might make reopening more complicated.
Next Thursday, join my colleague Chris Jackson for a deep dive on where we stand as a nation.
Be safe, be sane.
For more information, please contact:
Clifford Young
President, U.S.
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2016
[email protected]
For more information on COVID-19 please click here
About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.
Our research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data coming from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.
“Game Changers” — our tagline — summarizes our ambition to help our 5,000 clients to navigate more easily our deeply changing world.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).
ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP
