Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MinnEcon Blog
Paul Tosto

Poll, stories show many just getting by

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Data released today from the latest MPR News-Humphrey Institute poll finally let us put some numbers to the stories Minnesotans have been telling us for months.

It's not pretty. More than half Minnesota's households are stressed because of the economy. Most folks described their own finances as fair or poor.

Similar percentages said they aren't going to restaurants like they once did and are shopping for cheaper foods to eat home.

From the MPR story:

The poll shows that within the past six months about a third of likely Minnesota voters have postponed a vacation or car purchase. Nearly one in five, or 19 percent, has pushed back retirement -- and 16 percent have borrowed money just to cover living expenses.

We know. Minnesotans in MPR's Public Insight Network have been telling us these kinds of stories for months. We've been sharing them and you've really helped us plumb the depths of the Great Recession.

Until now, though, we didn't have a solid sense of proportion. Were the the stories we were hearing and telling outliers or examples of what the majority of Minnesotans were going through?

Now we know.

Your stories have put our reporting on point -- from conversations about what we're not buying. to the struggle to find work to the frustration of asking strangers for help for the first time and leveling with your kid's college about your financial woes.

Thanks.

Right now we're asking Minnesotans in our Network to tell how their October looks (add your voice here) and if they recession feels like it's over.

We have about 50 responses so far and we'll be highlighting many of them in posts next week.

A glancing look at what we have so far offers a little optimism, a sense that folks are at least out of crisis mode. It's not scientific, but it offers some hope.

**********************************

Help our economy reporting. Take your October economic pulse.