Pew Research Center Staff

A sizeable plurality (47%) says Obama is the candidate best able to deal with the problems in financial institutions and markets.

Fully 64% of Americans say jobs are difficult to find where they live.

Many Americans are delaying or cancelling spending, including nearly six-in-ten who have cut back on vacation spending.

About four-in-ten Americans (41%) still rate their personal financial situation as excellent or good.

Virtually no Democrats (2%) currently rate the nation's economy as good or excellent, but Republicans are scarcely more upbeat.

Views of Obama are more favorable than were opinions of John Kerry at a comparable time in the 2004 election cycle.

Half of registered voters choose Obama on taxes.

McCain leads among voters ages 65 and older.

Out of 24 countries surveyed, Americans (53%) are the least supportive of international trade.

Nearly eight-in-ten (79%) Americans say it is more difficult now than five years ago for people in the middle class to maintain their standard of living.