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Inflation is up and housing starts are down, according to new government statistics. Higher energy costs started the surge, which pushed up wholesale prices 1.2 percent in July, but economists now worry the rising costs are spreading throughout the economy. New housing starts haven't been this low since 1991, a mere 965,000 units, according to a separate report. New Gallup data out today shows three-quarters of the public have negative views of the economy, and 30 percent report their employer has laid off workers this year, the highest level in five years.
Our Money, Our Schools: Ten Top Findings From Our Research Team
ABORTIONMore than a generation after the 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the U.S., public debate on the subject continues to follow the well-worn path between condemnation and choice. Public attitudes do not.
Where advocates on both sides tend to lay out their arguments in terms of absolute moral rights and wrongs, the public seems to see conflicts and conditions. Solid majorities support a woman's right to choose abortion - if her reasons seem sound and if it's not too late in the pregnancy.
On an individual level, medical technology is making the issue more complex. In some respects, changing technology - such as the "abortion pill" and ultrasound-guided abortions available as early as eight days after conception – have made abortion both easier and more accepted. In other respects, new technology – such as ultrasound photos from the womb and developments making a fetus viable at earlier stages of pregnancy – has sparked new questions.
PROBLEMS, ANALYSIS & SOLUTIONS
Get the FactsElections are all about choices, but how can you choose who you want until you know what you want? Get the facts and consider your options with our Citizens Issue Guides. |
Listen to the PublicFind out how to listen to the public - including how to responsibly interpret polls - and truly engage voters in crafting and implementing public policy solutions. |
Lead the WayThis is the place to get the latest research on getting the public involved in school reform, including our surveys of teachers, parents, students and community leaders. |
In Your HometownYes, you can fight City Hall, but you might do better working together to identify problems and solutions. Organizations faced with an apathetic or angry public can also benefit from the art of public engagement - bringing leaders and communities together. Public engagement is our specialty - click here to learn more about it. |
Objective Tools For JournalistsDeadline looming? No problem. We've got objective facts on a long list of public policy issues, including polls on how the public feels, and hints on how opinion may be changing. Our communications department may also be able to help when you're in a hurry to find an expert to interview as you zero in on various subjects. |














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