Gallup: Americans see "political conflict" in 2023

ALBAWABA - A vast majority of Americans are anxious that the New Year will be marred by political conflict in the United States, according to the latest poll by the reputable a Gallup analytical and advisory company

The poll showed that 9 out of 10 U.S. citizens, or 90 percent of those polled, felt that 2023 will be blighted by political conflict in their country.

"Coming off several challenging years, Americans enter 2023 with a mostly gloomy outlook for the U.S. as majorities predict negative conditions in 12 of 13 economic, political, societal and international arenas," according to the pollster.

Gallup said when offered opposing outcomes on each issue, "about eight in 10 U.S. adults think 2023 will be a year of economic difficulty with higher rather than lower taxes and a growing rather than shrinking budget deficit."

It said more than six in 10 "think prices will rise at a high rate and the stock market will fall in the year ahead, both of which happened in 2022."

Additionally, just over half of Americans predict that unemployment will increase in 2023, "an economic problem the U.S. was spared in 2022," Gallup noted.

Domestically, it added,  90 percent of Americans expect 2023 will be a year of political conflict in the U.S., and that 72 percent "think the crime rate will rise, while 56 percent predict there will be many strikes by labor unions."

On world affairs, the poll showed that 85 percent of U.S. adults predicted that 2023 "will be fraught with international discord rather than peaceful."

"And while 64 percent think the United States’ power in the world will decline, 73 percent think China’s power will increase," according to the pollster.

But it added that 64 percent of Americans expected Russia’s global power will ebb in 2023, "likely a reflection of that country’s recent setbacks in its war against Ukraine."