Report · Culture

Many Americans feel as optimistic as they did a year ago

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A plurality of Americans feel no more or less hopeful than they did a year ago. About three-in-ten (31%) say they are equally as optimistic about the future as a year ago, according to a November 2025 Verasight survey.

Overall, 40% of Americans feel less optimistic than a year ago, including 14% who feel a lot less, while 28% feel more optimistic, including 9% a lot more, so the shift tilts negative.

Topline

single choice

Topline distribution

Many Americans feel as optimistic as they did a year ago.

Compared to one year ago, how optimistic are you about the future?

  • Equally as optimistic 31.4%
  • Less optimistic 25.9%
  • More optimistic 19.6%
  • A lot less optimistic 14.2%
  • A lot more optimistic 8.8%

2025 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.2%

Module 3

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Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2025-11-14 → 2025-11-20
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.2%
Module
Module 3

Source

Citation

Verasight APHA Omnibus Survey #2025-148, fielded November 14-20, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. When a wave report is published, its field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
The canonical report hub is reports.verasight.io. Verified legacy reports remain on their original hosts, and unpublished reports are marked pending.
Transparency
Verasight is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative.

The canonical report hub is reports.verasight.io; older reports may remain on verified legacy hosts.