Only 53% of all Americans are hopeful about their lives in 2013; some 44% say that they are more fearful

The assessment about what’s in store for the world is even more grim: a record low 40% report being hopeful about the next year, with 56% saying that they are more fearful. Those personally hopeful numbers are down sharply from four years ago when 63%t said as much in the wake of Obama’s historic first election. The trend is even more striking compared to expectations for 2007, before the national economic bubble burst. In December 2006, nearly three-quarters were more hopeful than fearful about the coming year.