In this 2018 survey, eight percent of respondents stated they think the biggest problem for the United States today is Donald Trump. In fact, most of the important problems mentioned are somehow related to the current POTUS – the most mentioned one being immigration and racism.

A country divided

Since Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, political camps in the United States are deeply divided and global politics is in turmoil; Trump’s job approval ratings are notoriously low, and in fact, they are lower than Reagan’s or Nixon’s averages ever were. Trump’s leadership is controversial at best and his executive orders often cause protests, especially among Democrats and liberals – like the travel ban for Muslims.

On the other side

One of Trump’s main campaign promises was a wall on the border with Mexico in order to keep potential illegal immigrants out and enhance security for American citizens. When he did not get the majority for this plan, he declared a national emergency to force the budget to be allocated, even though the majority of Americans did not support this idea, and it is unclear if the situation at the Mexican border actually warrants it. In fact, the total number of unauthorized immigrants has decreased over the last few years and today, many Americans believe that their country benefits from immigrants and their work .

A 2024 survey found that over half of U.S. individuals indicated the cost of accessing treatment was the biggest problem facing the national healthcare system. This is much higher than the global average of 32 percent and is in line with the high cost of health care in the U.S. compared to other high-income countries. Bureaucracy along with a lack of staff were also considered to be pressing issues. This statistic reveals the share of individuals who said select problems were the biggest facing the health care system in the United States in 2024.

This study is part of a quadrennial series designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of both the general public and a select group of opinion leaders (or elites) on matters relating to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate. Both general public and elite respondents were queried regarding the biggest problems facing the United States, the spending levels for various federal government programs, the role of Congress in determining foreign policy, the impact of foreign policy on issues like prices and unemployment, and the Clinton Administration's handling of various problems such as the overall foreign policy, the overall trade policy, immigration, and the relations with Latin America, Japan, Russia, Cuba, Vietnam, and the Middle East. Questions were also asked about the government's reactions to the ongoing situations in Bosnia, North Korea, Haiti, Cuba, Rwanda, and the Middle East, the importance of various countries to America's vital interests, and possible adversaries or threats to the United States in the near future. Issues like the presence of NATO troops in Western Europe, the military role of Japan and Germany, the economic unification of Western Europe, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the illegal drugs problem were also explored. In addition, the elites were asked several questions about their political party affiliation and the strength of that affiliation. Demographic data such as religious preference, marital status, employment status, household composition, education, age, Hispanic origin, race, sex, and income were only collected for the general population sample.

A survey conducted in July 2025 found that the most important issue for ***percent of Americans was inflation and prices. A further ***percent of respondents were most concerned about jobs and the economy.

Graph and download economic data for Corporate Issues, Bonds and Notes, Including Refunding, U.S., Canadian and Foreign (M10028M144NNBR) from Jan 1906 to Dec 1940 about notes, issues, foreign, Canada, bonds, corporate, and USA.

United States New Security Issues: US Corporations data was reported at 132.525 USD bn in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 132.763 USD bn for Apr 2018. United States New Security Issues: US Corporations data is updated monthly, averaging 138.365 USD bn from Feb 2003 (Median) to May 2018, with 184 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 328.777 USD bn in Mar 2007 and a record low of 42.698 USD bn in Aug 2008. United States New Security Issues: US Corporations data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.Z030: New Security Issues: Corporations.

United States SBOI: sa: Most Pressing Problem: A Year Ago: Others data was reported at 5.000 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.000 % for Feb 2025. United States SBOI: sa: Most Pressing Problem: A Year Ago: Others data is updated monthly, averaging 7.000 % from Jan 2014 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 131 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.000 % in May 2023 and a record low of 3.000 % in Jul 2024. United States SBOI: sa: Most Pressing Problem: A Year Ago: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Federation of Independent Business. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.S042: NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

According to a 2024 survey just after the 2024 election, young adults in the United States were divided when it came to important political issues such as border security, gun violence prevention, and addressing climate change. However, the majority of young Americans considered the cost of living and inflation a top political issue, regardless of their race and ethnicity.

November's Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on medical errors has sparked debate among US health policy makers as to the appropriate response to the problem. Proposals range from the implementation of nationwide mandatory reporting with public release of performance data to voluntary reporting and quality-assurance efforts that protect the confidentiality of error-related data. Any successful safety program will require a national effort to make significant investments in information technology infrastructure, and to provide an environment and education that enables providers to contribute to an active quality-improvement process.

In 2019, RWJF commissioned the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) to survey U.S. adults and develop a typology to better understand current mindsets within the U.S. adult population related to resource problems such as: adequate incomes and access to healthy food, child-care programs, and preschool. The idea was to use a typology to understand values and beliefs related to promoting solutions to the problems, including differing views about the deservingness of low-income families, the importance of systemic-level causes, and the proper role for government to play in addressing the problems. The work was to be modeled on previous NORC American Health Values Survey work completed for RWJF. Specific objectives of the work were to: Identify prevailing values and beliefs related to child and family health promotion among U.S. adults, especially those related to the causes, solutions, and impacts of important problems facing families with young children along with who should be responsible for addressing the problems. Better understand differences in these values and beliefs through development of a typology. Generate strategic insights for stakeholders working to address the important problems facing families with young children.

This Voice of the People poll seeks the opinions of Canadians, on predominantly economic, political, and social issues. The questions ask opinions about corruption, democracy, government, and world issues. There are also questions on topics such as the reduction and elimination of incidences of torture, familiarity with global institutions, predictions about the next generation, public school trends, and public clinics/hospitals. There are also questions on other topics of interest such as problems facing Canada, private/public sector contribution to the improvement of social services, trust in people, and globalization/globalisation. The respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographic and social variables. Topics of interest include: economy; corruption; American foreign policy; politics; next generation; elections; public schools; public clinics/hospitals; torture; global institution; democracy; and trust. Basic demographic variables are also included.

Graph and download economic data for Government-Sponsored Enterprises; GSE Issues of FICO; Liability, Transactions (BOGZ1FU403161763A) from 1946 to 2024 about GSE, issues, transactions, liabilities, and USA.

In 1957, the United States Congress established the Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health to evaluate the nation's resources for coping with both the psychological and economic problems of mental illness. The Commission sponsored a nationwide survey, which was conducted by the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan, to assess the subjective mental health of "normal" American adults and to determine in detail how they coped with problems of adjustment. During the spring of 1957, a sample of American adults was interviewed on various areas in which problems might arise, including marriage, parenthood, employment, and general social relationships. Information about leisure time, past and present physical and mental health, and motives for affiliation, achievement, and power were also sought. Three questionnaire forms were employed, each addressed to a randomly selected third of the sample.

This study was a joint project of ten major United States cities participating in the Urban Observatory Program: Atlanta, Albuquerque, Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri, Milwaukee, Nashville, and San Diego. The survey focused on citizens' perceptions of the problems of urban life. Citizens' attitudes toward local government services and their opinions about local problems in the areas of schooling, housing, public transportation, controlled drugs, law and order, and taxes were assessed in all ten cities. Information on the socioeconomic status of the respondents, and on household composition was also elicited. Demographic data include sex, age, marital status, race, ethnicity, birthplace, level of education, and family income. Each city may be analyzed separately or may be treated as an integral part of the comparative study.

Graph and download economic data for Government-Sponsored Enterprises; GSE Issues of REFCORP; Liability, Level (BOGZ1FL403161773Q) from Q4 1945 to Q2 2025 about GSE, issues, liabilities, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Domestic Common Stock Issues for United States (Q10069USQ144NNBR) from Q1 1920 to Q4 1930 about issues, equity, domestic, and USA.

As part of an ongoing data collection effort, CBS News and The New York Times conducted a series of interviews. The substantive common denominator in the surveys was a continuing evaluation of the Reagan presidency. Each survey also raised questions of topical relevance and/or broader social concern, including the following: Part 1: Government figures and race relations in New York City. Part 2: The space program, 1988 presidential candidates, the Iran-Contra matter, economic problems, and the Strategic Defense Initiative. Part 3: The Tower Commission Report and the Iran-Contra matter. Part 4: Ronald Reagan's speech of March 4, 1987 and the Iran-Contra matter. Part 5: Television evangelists, focusing on the PTL and Jim Bakker. Parts 6 and 7: Israeli involvement in the Jonathan Pollard spy case and the Iranian arms sale, and relations between the United States and Israel. Part 8: The Iran-Contra matter and 1988 presidential candidates with special emphasis on Gary Hart. Part 9: The Constitution, examining the operation, characteristics and relations among the three branches of the federal government. Part 10: The Iran-Contra hearings and testimony and actions of Oliver North. Part 11: The Iran-Contra hearings and testimony of Oliver North, Robert McFarlane, and John Poindexter. Part 12: Aid to the contras, the Iranian arms sale, the Bork nomination to the Supreme Court, and l988 presidential candidates focusing on George Bush. Part 13: Pope John Paul the Second and moral, social, and political issues facing the Catholic Church. Part 14: The role of parish priests and the current moral, social, and political issues facing the Catholic Church. Part 15: Arms control and Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. Part 16: Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork and United States Navy ships in the Persian Gulf. Part 17: Business and industry in the United States. Part 18: l988 presidential candidates, social and economic problems facing the United States, and a comparison of the the two major political parties. Part 19: The campaigns of l988 Presidential candidates from each party, social and economic problems facing the United States, and Iowa's caucus system. Part 20: The Ginsburg nomination to the Supreme Court and his withdrawal, and respondents' opinions of factors that might disqualify someone from serving in public office. Part 21: The federal budget deficit, foreign trade, 1988 presidential candidates, and United States-Soviet arms control negotiations. Part 22: 1988 presidential candidates, and the re-entry of Gary Hart into the race. All surveys contain demographic information on respondents.

This Gallup poll seeks the opinions of Canadians on various topics. Included in the discussion are questions about problems facing the country and their solutions, issues involving unemployment, US presidential elections, political party preference, and ways to preventwar. Respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographic, demographic, and social variables. Topics of interest include: alcohol consumption; world conflicts; personal savings; John Diefenbaker, voting behaviour; neutral and non neutral countries; federal elections; power of the Provinces; immigration; and union membership. Basic demographics variables are also included.

This poll, conducted June 23-26, 1994, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, the economy, foreign affairs, health care, and the welfare system. Views were sought on the most important issues facing the country, the condition of the national economy, whether President Clinton was seeking the right or wrong changes for the country, if he made more mistakes than usual for a president, whether he was a strong and decisive leader, and whether he understood the problems of people like the respondent. Respondents were polled on whether they approved or disapproved of the way President Clinton was handling the situations in North Korea, Haiti, Rwanda, and Bosnia, whether the United States' interests were at stake in these countries, and whether the United States should take action to restore democracy in Haiti and prevent North Korea from obtaining nuclear weapons. Questions involving health care asked whether President Clinton's plan was better than the current system, whether President Clinton or Congress should handle health care reform, whether the system should be fixed or changed completely and in what ways, and whether it was more important to guarantee health care for all Americans or to hold down the cost for working people. Opinions were solicited on Congress and how well it was doing its job, how much it accomplished in the past 18 months, what prevented it from accomplishing more, and whether the Democratic or Republican party could be better trusted to deal with the country's main problems. Respondents were asked whether they would likely vote for President Clinton or a Republican nominee in the 1996 presidential election, whether they would vote for a Republican or Democratic candidate in the upcoming United States House of Representatives election, whether they approved or disapproved of the way their own representative was doing his or her job, whether they would vote to re-elect him or her, whether they felt more inclined to vote for incumbents or challengers for public office, and whether they favored or opposed term limits for representatives. A series of questions addressed whether respondents considered themselves professional sports fans, whether they watched or planned to watch the world cup soccer games, and whether they thought they might ever be soccer fans. Other topics addressed whether respondents had ever heard of the religious right, whether they held favorable or unfavorable impressions of this group, whether they considered themselves a member of the religious right, whether homosexual relations should be legal or illegal, whether it was morally wrong, whether homosexuality was a choice, and whether homosexuals should have equal rights. Background variables include age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, education, religion, religiosity, employment status, household income, social class, subjective size of community, labor union membership, political orientation, political party affiliation, whether the respondent was registered to vote, whether he or she voted in the 1992 presidential election, and if so, for whom (Democrat Bill Clinton, Republican George H.W. Bush, or Independent candidate Ross Perot).

Aging water and wastewater infrastructure continues to be major issue in the U.S. water, wastewater, and stormwater industry. In a 2024 survey with more than *** U.S. water industry stakeholders, ** percent said aging infrastructure was the most challenging issue facing the sector.