The latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll finds that New Jerseyans are feeling negative about the economy.

The poll, taken from June 13–16, surveyed 621 New Jersey adults.

“New Jerseyans are far from optimistic when it comes to current finances – whether it’s the state economy, the national outlook, or their own personal situation,” Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Key findings include:

• National economy
  • 36% poor
  • 42% only fair
  • 17% good
  • 2% excellent
• National economy in last year
  • 55% gotten worse
  • 21% gotten better
  • 20% same
• New Jersey economy:
  • 24% poor
  • 46% only fair
  • 24% good
  • 2% excellent
• New Jersey economy in last year
  • 51% same
  • 35% worse
  • 7% better
• Personal finances
  • 49% holding steady
  • 44% falling behind
  • 6% getting ahead
• Personal finances in last year
  • 56% same
  • 34% worse
  • 9% better
• Affording a variety of basic costs:
  • Difficult to afford rent or mortgage payments 23% very 32% somewhat
  • Groceries and other food 16% very 39% somewhat
  • Health care and medical costs 19% very 33% somewhat
  • Utility bills 17% very 33% somewhat
  • Education costs, including student loans 25% very 37% somewhat
  • Gasoline or other transportation costs 10% very 25%somewhat

The poll also breaks down these questions by political party and other demographics; and compares to recent readings on these questions. Full poll results are available here.

Common ground

“There are consistent disparities on how difficult it is to afford these basic costs by race and ethnicity, as well as income,” said David Martin, a research associate at the Eagleton Center. “On many of these items, nonwhite residents find it more difficult than white residents to do so, as do those in the lowest income bracket compared to those in households making more.

“The only partisan difference we see is on student loans, where Democrats and independents are about twice as likely as Republicans to say affording education costs is ‘very difficult’ for them.”

This poll comes on the heels of another recent one from Rutgers-Eagleton that found New Jerseyans dissatisfied with the state’s handling of a number of issues, particularly affordability and the cost-of-living.

Koning added, “While residents still rate New Jersey’s economy somewhat better than the country’s, many feel financial strain in their daily lives, including when it comes to affording basic needs.”