UCI

Orange County Economy

Residents' evaluations of the Orange County economy have improved dramatically since last year. Optimism about the local economy is at the highest point since we began to ask this question in 1992. This is yet another sign that the doom and gloom about the bankruptcy and recession has lifted. Nearly half (44%) believe the Orange County economy is in excellent or good shape today, while only 10 percent say it is in poor shape. Forty-five percent rate it as fair and 1 percent are unsure. Graph

The positive ratings have improved 25 points over last year's survey, while the negative ratings have declined by 20 points.

The perceptions of the local economy are markedly improved from all of the previous years. Positive ratings were 19 percent in 1992, 20 percent in 1993, 28 percent in 1994 and 19 percent in 1995. Poor ratings were 28 percent in 1992, 30 percent in 1993, 17 percent in 1994 and 30 percent in 1995. This question was not asked prior to the 1992 survey.

The ratings of the Orange County economy are similar across age groups. However, residents of the Central County are less likely to be positive (38%) and more likely to be negative (19%) than those living elsewhere.

Thirty-two percent of residents in households earning under $36,000 a year give excellent or good ratings to the local economy, compared with 45 percent who earn $36,000 to $50,000 a year and 53 percent who earn more than $50,000.

Non-Hispanic whites (49%) are more likely than Hispanics (28%) and Asians (37%) to say the local economy is in excellent or good shape today.