A Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released today in partnership with NEW JOBS PAC finds a majority of New Jersey residents have largely negative feelings about the state and national economies.
When asked to characterize the current state of the U.S. economy:
- 41% describe it as “poor”
- 39% described it as “only fair” (up 10 points since November 2024)
- 18% described it as “good” (down 8 points since November 2024)
- Less than 1% described it as “excellent”
On the state of New Jersey’s economy:
- 26% rate it as “poor”
- 37% rate it as “only fair”
- 31% rate it as “good”
- 1% rate it as “excellent”
Views on the national economy are net negative across the board, including across partisan lines.
A majority of Republicans (62%) rate the national economy as either “only fair” or “poor,” although they do so to a lesser extent than Democrats (88%) or independents (82%).
Republicans (37%) are also three times as likely as Democrats (11%) and more than twice as likely as independents (15%) to rate the economy as “good.”
Partisan differences are reversed on the state economy versus the national economy.
At the state level in New Jersey, Democrats (45%) are about twice as likely as Republicans (21%) and one-and-a-half times as likely as independents (28%) to rate New Jersey’s economy as “excellent” or “good.”
While just over half of Democrats rate it as “only fair” or “poor” (52%), two-thirds of independents (66%) and three-quarters of Republicans (78%) feel the same.
“A majority of citizens in New Jersey are worried about the state’s economy and the taxes they pay. That is a very alarming because it also makes businesses concerned about investment and stability in the marketplace,” said Tony Bawidamann, Chairman of the NEW JOBS PAC.
“There is a lot of work to be done as the State’s business leaders need to work closely with elected leaders to create public policy that makes it easier for businesses to grow and flourish here.”
Bawidamann continued: “Creating a positive business climate, will result in a stronger economy that builds consumer confidence and attracts business to locate here.”
“It’s not surprising that we see ratings of the state economy unimproved and ratings on the national economy even more negative, given the current political and economic climate,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick.
“While views are colored by partisanship – with Republicans more positive about Trump’s economy and Democrats more positive about Murphy’s – partisans of all stripes sense the economy is not in great shape. The economy is sure to be at the forefront of this year’s governor’s race and next year’s midterms.”
When it comes to determining the biggest driver of taxes one pays in New Jersey, respondents coalesce around a couple of major state expenses.
Specifically, regarding property taxes, 48% say one’s local public school district has the most influence on how much someone pays; no other response comes close.
Other responses include:
- County-level government services (9%)
- Pensions for local government employees (8%)
- Local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services (7%)
- Road maintenance (6%)
- Social programs and services (5%)
- Local libraries, parks, and other infrastructure (2%)
As for what determines the amount of income tax one pays in New Jersey, residents are divided between healthcare and social services (24%) like Medicaid, public health initiatives, and other social programs and public education (21%).
Eight percent each say property tax relief; state police, corrections facilities, and emergency services; and transportation and infrastructure.
Results are from a statewide poll of 1,058 adults contacted through the probability-based Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from April 1 to April 10. The full sample has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points. The registered voter subsample contains 966 registered voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percentage points.
ABOUT THE NEW JOBS PAC
The New Jersey Organization for a Better State (NEW JOBS), the State’s largest and most influential ideological business political action committee, is a nonpartisan organization whose trustees promote a pro-business climate in New Jersey by endorsing and supporting legislative candidates who actively support economic growth, the creation of private-sector jobs, and the lowering of business costs.
ABOUT THE EAGLETON CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEREST POLLING
Home of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) was established in 1971 and is the oldest and one of the most respected university-based statewide polling operations in the United States. Now in its 52nd year and with the publication of over 200 polls, ECPIP’s mission is to provide scientifically sound, nonpartisan information about public opinion.
