Why the Latest Massachusetts Economic Poll Leaves Experts Scratching Their Heads

A recent poll reveals that the majority of Massachusetts residents feel secure regarding their employment and financial stability – a nice place to be, for sure.

The Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll found an astonishing 70.8 percent of respondents "have enough money to live comfortably," and 70 percent said they are "not concerned at all" about losing their job.

Only 27 percent told pollsters they do not have enough money to live comfortably, and 26.2 percent are "somewhat concerned" (18.2 percent) or "very concerned" (eight percent) about losing their job.

Poll: Massachusetts Residents Have Mixed Views On Economy

High Job Security vs. Financial Anxiety

Surprisingly, 46.4 percent told pollsters they are worse off now than they were four years ago, while only 41.4 percent said they are better off. Another 10.6 percent said they are about the same as they were four years ago.

Additionally, 60.2 percent said they are somewhat concerned (37 percent) or very concerned (23.2 percent) about their financial situation or employment. Another 39.4 percent said they were not very concerned (18.2) or not concerned at all (21.2).

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Groceries and Utilities Drive Consumer Stress

Respondents listed "cost of food and groceries" (33 percent) as the area they are feeling the biggest impact on their personal finances.

Utility costs were the next greatest source of angst for respondents (16.4 percent), followed by taxes (15.8 percent), mortgage or rent payments (13.6 percent), gas prices (10.8 percent), other (7.8 percent), and undecided (2.6 percent).

A Split Outlook on the Commonwealth's Economy

Poll respondents were split on the state of the economy, with 35.6 saying it is good and 35.6 saying it is fair. A full 21 percent of respondents labelled the Massachusetts economy as poor, while 5.4 percent said it is excellent.

Is it me, or are these poll results riddled with contradictions?