The Nation - News from June 28, 1989

Seven years of prosperity have reinforced Americans’ optimism that the good times will continue, with six in 10 (58%) expecting to be financially better off at this time next year, according to a Gallup Poll. Throughout the recovery, however, a core group of about one-fourth of the public has experienced times when they did not have enough money to buy food, clothing or medical care for their families. Blacks and people in the lowest education and income categories have been particularly hard hit, with about one-half in each group suffering financial hardship. Moreover, 26% of participants in the telephone survey of 1,249 adults say they worry all or most of the time that their family income will not meet expenses.