Investor Uprisers Still Fearful About Economy

Our recent poll shows that Investor Uprising readers are still fearful about the economy. The bulk of our nearly 100 survey takers expect sluggish economic conditions -- or worse -- in 2012.

According to the poll results, as of today, 31% fear that "recession will be global and pervasive in 2012." A slightly more moderate view, "there will be problems in Europe, but not elsewhere," also garnered 31% of the vote.

The more optimistic folks were clearly in the minority. Only 12% of those polled predict that we will escape recession in 2012 and "get back to growth across the world." Roughly 15% believe that "both the US and Europe will suffer significant recessions, but not the developing world."

Maybe ignorance is bliss -- 11% of those polled said they have no idea what will happen.

All told, it's a pessimistic view. Almost 77% expect some kind of recession somewhere. This contrasts with general market data. In the past three months, stock markets worldwide have rallied, and economic data in the United States in particular has improved. But it's clear from our poll -- as well as some others -- that the general public is still skeptical about a widespread economic recovery.

In market terms, this could mean that the "gloom and doom" view is still the consensus. With stocks trading at fairly inexpensive multiples, if the economy did improve more than expected in 2012, that would set the stage for an aggressive worldwide stock rally.

Please join us for a special chat session tomorrow on this Website at noon ET, when we'll discuss the economy in 2012. You can follow the chat thread here.

Tomorrow we will publish a new poll. You can check out the poll archives here.