This will come as a surprise to at least some of you: 37 percent of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the country, according to a new Gallup poll — up from 29 percent last month and matching a recent high from just before the November 2016 election.
The last time Gallup recorded a higher level of satisfaction was all the way back in September 2005.
The 37 percent satisfaction also matches the long-term historical average dating back to 1979, though annual averages have been below 30 percent every year since 2005.
Gallup says the rise in satisfaction levels this month reflects increases among independents (up from 26 percent to 35 percent) and Republicans (up from 57 percent to 63 percent). Meanwhile, only 14 percent of Democrats are happy with the way things are going.
Gallup notes that the satisfaction level is still far below where it was in December 2000 (51 percent), the last time unemployment was as low as it is now. And Americans still see plenty of important problems in the country, with government dysfunction still topping the list, as it has for 17 months in a row.
The poll numbers are based on telephone interviews conducted over the first 10 days of this month with 1,024 U.S. adults.
