59.9% of Adults 18+ say the economy is not at all or not really heading in the right direction, according to the latestAmerican Pulse Surveyof 5,406 respondents.18.1% are neutral while 22.0% say the economy is somewhat or definitely on track:

Is the economy heading in the right direction?
1 – No, not at all25.8%
2 – No, not really34.1%
3 – Neutral18.1%
4 – Yes, somewhat19.7%
5 – Yes, definitely2.3%

Source: American Pulse™ Survey, June-2011

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The debt issue appears to be weighing down the economy and steering it off course, nationally and globally. The International Monetary Fund has been warning other countries about the seriousness of America’s national debt crisis, and a vast majority (84.6%) of Americans agree—the debt situation is somewhat/very serious. Nearly half (47.8%) do not want to see the debt ceiling raised, even temporarily. 25.8% are neutral and 26.4% think Congress should raise the spending limit until a long term plan for budget cuts is approved.

Earlier this month, President Obama pledged money to help bail Greece out of debt. However, 3 in 4 (75.5%) Americans do not think this is a good idea due to the U.S.’s own debt problem. Perhaps a sign of American pride, the majority (56.8%) of Adults 18+ don’t think the U.S. should ask other countries for financial aid. 26.0% say the U.S. should while 17.2% are unsure.

7 in 10 (71.4%) Americans are also somewhat/very concerned that entitlement programs such as Social Security will face major cuts in order to balance the budget. Further, 44.6% of those who are not yet retired don’t think Social Security will be around when they do retire (vs. 24.2% who think it will and 31.2% who don’t know).

Other Key Findings:

• Just over half (58.5%) blame former President Bush for the state of the economy, while 41.5% attribute fault to President Obama.
• Americans are also divided on whether or not the Obama administration has helped the state of the economy—30.2% say it has while 45.6% say the current administration has hurt the economy. 24.1% aren’t sure.
• 40.5% say they are not at all likely to recommend President Obama for reelection, while 15.0% say they are extremely likely.
• 47.3% of Americans think automated devices such as ATMs and check-out lanes have taken away jobs, while 29.8% say they have benefitted the economy.
• 3 in 10 (31.2%) think online or automatic bill pay options have taken away jobs, while about the same (31.3%) say these payment methods have benefitted the economy.
• Factoring in national debt and lewd online behavior, should Rep. Weiner still be eligible for his $1 million pension? 45.6% say this is too much—there are better uses for tax dollars.