Despite generally favorable ratings for President Obama, we'd collectively been unhappy with the overall direction of our country during his presidency.
In the early months of the Trump Presidency we'd seen a bit of a shift with a less popular President but a bit more optimistic country generally.
At one point earlier this year, we were nearly 20 percent more optimistic than under the Obama administration but that waned a few months back. Here's the latest.
Where we stood on Inauguration Day:
Right Direction: 30 percent
Wrong Track: 59 percent
Net: -29 percent
Last week:
Right Direction: 29 percent
Wrong Track: 62 percent
Net: -31 percent
And today:
Right Direction: 31 percent
Wrong Track: 61 percent
Net: -30 percent
Change: -1 percent since Inauguration Day & +1 percent from a week ago
It's interesting that a year after the election we're basically right where we were before in our view of things.
This happens to be a case where perception and reality aren't equitable however. The economy is substantially improved - which historically has been the most important consideration for most people. As a reminder we now have:
Economic growth over 3 percent
Base unemployment rate is the lowest in nearly 17 years
Real unemployment is the best in eleven years
Corporate profits are at all-time highs
The stock market is at all-time highs amid a record run since last November's election
However, it's understandable that many are still frustrated.
Our top two agenda items coming into 2017 where healthcare and tax reform. We're still waiting for them to occur and that's doubtless part of our frustration with our country's direction.