FIN Survey: Political Confidence Plummets

John Wolz

Positive ratings in U.S. political leadership on business issues fell and negative ratings rose in the past year.
Confidence in the U.S. Congress on business issues is at the lowest point in the nine years it has been measured in the FIN Survey. Fastener industry confidence in the White House is at the lowest point since George W. Bush has occupied it.
Industry confidence in Congress at the end of 2005 dropped to 2.4 from 2.8 from a year earlier. The previous low was 2.6 at the end of both 2002 and 2003. The high was 3.0 at the end of 2000.
A 54.7% majority of the industry rated Congress as “Low” or “Very Low,” compared with only 11.9% pegging their support at “Very High” or “High.” One-third gave Congress “Moderate” support.
The White House scored slightly better than Congress with nearly a quarter (23.8%) rating performance at “High” or “Very High.” That was down from 43% positive ratings at the end 2004.
But the White House negatives were higher yet as a total of 38.1% answered “Low” or “Very Low.” Only 18.2% reported “Low” or “Very Low” support a year ago.
An identical percentage of 38.1% checked “Moderate” support option of the White House. \ �2006 FastenerNews.com