Wealth.(Opinion Pulse)

Sixty percent of Americans say they are better off than their parents were at the same point in their lives, and about two thirds expect their children to be better off than they are. Seventy percent say it is still possible to start out poor, work hard, and become rich in America. About 30 percent of Americans, including 51 percent of 18-to 29-year olds, say it is likely that they will become rich. What constitutes being rich today? The median response is $120,000 per year. The number of people with investments has been growing.

 
Question: Looking at your overall 
financial situation, would 
you say you are ...? 
 
I am better off than my 
parents were at the 
same time in their lives   60% 
Don't 
know/ 
refused                     2% 
Worse 
off                        13% 
About the same             25% 
 
Note: Sample is families 
with children. 
Source: The Gallup Organization for Reader's Digest, April-May 2003. 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
 
Question: How do you think your children 
will do, compared to your 
financial situation? Do you ...? 
 
Expect my children to 
be better off than I am   67% 
Don't know                 2% 
Worse 
off                        6% 
About 
the same                  25% 
 
Note: Sample is families 
with children. 
Source: The Gallup Organization for Reader's Digest, April-May 2003. 
Note: Table made from pie chart. 
 
Question: Do you think ...? 
 
It's ...