UCI

Orange County’s bullish economy is continuing, with eight in 10 (79%) residents rating it as being in excellent or good shape. One in six call the local economy fair, and only 2% think it is in poor condition.

The ratings of the Orange County economy are nearly identical to last year’s survey. Since 1995, when only 19% thought the county's economy was in excellent or good shape, the number of residents with positive assessments has risen 60 points.

Residents in households earning $80,000 or more a year (93%) are much more likely to give excellent or good ratings than are those earning less than $36,000 (62%). Non-Hispanic whites (86%) are considerably more positive than Latinos (55%). Older people (84%) are more bullish than are those under 35 (67%). And ratings are more positive in the South County (90%) than the North (74%). Still, a majority in all age, income, regions and race and ethnic groups say Orange County's economy is currently in excellent or good shape.

Orange County’s quality of life ratings remain at the high point they have held for the past two years. More than nine in 10 (91%) say things are going very or somewhat well in the county today, including 38% saying very well. Only 9% think things are going badly.

The current scores are similar to 1998 and 1999, and represent a 31-point increase over 1992 and 1993, when only six in 10 said things were going very or somewhat well. Non-Hispanic whites are more likely to say things are going very well (43%) than are Latinos (21%). Those earning $80,000 or more (53%) are much more positive than are those earning less than $36,000 (26%). And the number saying things are going very well is higher in the South County (49%) than the North (34%). Still, a strong majority in all demographic groups feels that things are going very or somewhat well in Orange County today.