Generations

Half of all Americans like the Beatles a lot, placing them at the top of a 20-artist popularity contest.

They have different values, beliefs and lifestyles, but young and old today are disagreeing without being disagreeable. Both also share a fondness for Woodstock-era rock and roll.

Most Americans believe there is a major difference between the views of younger and older people, and more than said so in 1969.

American life is driven by the automobile; not only is a car seen as an overwhelming necessity but most say not driving is a clear sign of old age.

Six-in-ten Gen Nexters completely agree that it is their duty to always vote.

While the economic downturn is falling quite heavily on younger Americans, their overall outlook remains optimistic. A new survey also finds Generation Next expressing more liberal views when compared with older age cohorts as well as evidence of increased political engagement.

In the midst of a recession that has taken a heavy toll on many nest eggs, just over half of all working adults ages 50 to 64 say they may delay their retirement -- and another 16% say they never expect to stop working.

Older adults are less likely than younger and middle-aged adults to say that in the past year they have cut back on spending; suffered losses in their retirement accounts; or experienced trouble paying for housing or medical care.

Summary of Findings As many newspapers struggle to stay economically viable, fewer than half of Americans (43%) say that losing their local newspaper would hurt civic life in their community “a lot.” Even fewer (33%) say they would personally miss reading the local newspaper a lot if it were no longer available. Not unexpectedly, those […]

The percentage of those ages 70 to 75 using the internet has nearly doubled, from 26% in 2005 to 46% in 2008.