Economy as issue in 2016 - will it be better, worse or same?

[Likely Voter]

So today the unemployment rate hit 5.9%


Obviously this isn't the only indicator, but the economy continues to recover (albeit slowly). So do folks expect things to continue to get better between now and Nov 2016?.

Will the economy be the top issue or even the number two issue in 2016?

[Never]

I suppose the economy could gradually get better between now and 2016, but there is enough time between now and then for an economic slowdown of some degree. I suspect the economy will be the top issue in the coming presidential election; if it is not, the only issue I could see taking precedence is some sort of war or a significant national security/foreign policy story shortly before the election.

[King]

There's no bubble forming.  People will complain about slow, but it can grow like thIs infinitely.

[Suburbia]

It should be better by 2016, if not then it will remain the big issue.

[m4567]

The same or slightly better.

This is actually the best year for job creation since 1999.

[TDAS04]

Somewhat better.

[eric82oslo]

So today the unemployment rate hit 5.9%

That's a big deal! Didn't see that news anywhere actually. Any links? This is some pretty amazing news for Hillary actually (Obama as well, but he won't run for anything anytime soon, although he'll probably become UN Secretary General or Secretary of State or something like that down the road).

[eric82oslo]

Will the economy be the top issue or even the number two issue in 2016?

If the price of oil drops below 70 dollars, or even just 80 dollars, it might endanger the oil boom in North Dakota and other states I've read. It's already dropped amazingly just over the past week or so. It's in the low 90ies right now. And Saudi Arabia has actually increased production lately, instead of trying to counteract the price fall, which the country in unison with OPEC has almost always tried to do in the past when steep price falls have been imminent. Some oil experts (it's actually a profession believe it or not lol) think that Saudi Arabia might be trying to speculate in another way, by trying to push out American producers, Saudi Arabia might keep up its curreny market share, instead of a drop in market share which would happen in other scenarios. So besides the unemployment rate, the price of oil is probably something one should continue to keep an eye on.

[New_Conservative]

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS11300000

[Skill and Chance]

Will the economy be the top issue or even the number two issue in 2016?

If the price of oil drops below 70 dollars, or even just 80 dollars, it might endanger the oil boom in North Dakota and other states I've read. It's already dropped amazingly just over the past week or so. It's in the low 90ies right now. And Saudi Arabia has actually increased production lately, instead of trying to counteract the price fall, which the country in unison with OPEC has almost always tried to do in the past when steep price falls have been imminent. Some oil experts (it's actually a profession believe it or not lol) think that Saudi Arabia might be trying to speculate in another way, by trying to push out American producers, Saudi Arabia might keep up its curreny market share, instead of a drop in market share which would happen in other scenarios. So besides the unemployment rate, the price of oil is probably something one should continue to keep an eye on.

Well, low oil prices/low gas prices are generally good for incumbents.  The major oil-producing states are almost all Safe R, so it's hard to see major impacts there except perhaps in a primary.  I view this as the Saudi's last stand.  If they drive down the price of oil too far, the US and China will get serious about natural gas.  Then the Middle East becomes completely irrelevant geopolitically.  And climate change becomes much less of an issue with the world running on natural gas as opposed to coal and oil.

[ShadowRocket]

I think it'll be better, but income inequality/wage stagnation will still be an issue.

[pikachu]

It'll be better. Unless something unforeseen happens, I can this election being like 2000 in that there's no major, overarching issue.

[sg0508]

Worse.  Another downturn is starting.  The signs are there, starting in real estate and the markets appeared to have peaked.

[BlueSwan]

Obamas low approval ratings are actually rather astonishing when you look at those numbers. Republicans might call it a slow recovery, but compare this to Europe where there has hardly been any recovery at all. The expansive policy of the US has beaten the austerity policies of Europe to a pulp.

[New_Conservative]

Some worldwide indicators are not looking good, makes me more nervous than I was last month, I think anyone expecting a huge improvement in the economy by 2016 is in fantasy land.

[eric82oslo]

Some worldwide indicators are not looking good, makes me more nervous than I was last month, I think anyone expecting a huge improvement in the economy by 2016 is in fantasy land.

I agree, it's depressing. Russia (Ukraine) is the big sinner here, although the Eurozone isn't far behind either. Then you have the slowdown and possible property/private debt crisis in China, as well as the slowdown in Brazil and Argentina. The US economy is actually one of the few bright spots at the moment. Yet at this moment in time, it surely isn't big or potent enough to lift the whole world out of an oxygen-short crisis.

[New_Conservative]

Some worldwide indicators are not looking good, makes me more nervous than I was last month, I think anyone expecting a huge improvement in the economy by 2016 is in fantasy land.

I agree, it's depressing. Russia (Ukraine) is the big sinner here, although the Eurozone isn't far behind either. Then you have the slowdown and possible property/private debt crisis in China, as well as the slowdown in Brazil and Argentina. The US economy is actually one of the few Bright spots at the moment.

And thats not a good thing.

[Pheurton Skeurto]

I think it'll be better, but income inequality/wage stagnation will still be an issue.

Yes, this.