PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans' views of seven industries are substantially improved this year, based on increases of 10 points or more in the industries' net positive ratings. The banking, travel, and real estate industries show the greatest improvements. Farming and agriculture's rating jumped 10 points from last year.
Healthcare is the only industry to see a decline of at least 10 points, although the retail, computer, and pharmaceutical industries were close to that threshold.
The results are based on Gallup's annual Work and Education poll, conducted Aug. 7-11. Each year since 2001, Gallup has asked Americans to rate 25 different business sectors and industries on a five-point scale ranging from "very positive" to "very negative." The net ratings are the difference between the positive and negative ratings for each industry.
Broader improvement in the economy and increased consumer confidence may be behind the more positive ratings of the banking, real estate, travel, airline, and automobile industries.
Click here to see the full results.