The Results: Waves 1 - 10

Wave 10 - May 12, 2011
The latest report shows that Americans’ overall trust has fallen to 20 percent, similar to levels recorded during the earliest months of the financial meltdown (20 percent in December 2008 and 19 percent in March 2009).

Wave 9 - January 24, 2011
While the first issue of the Index from January 2009 revealed that 20 percent of Americans trusted the financial system in the wake of the economic crisis, two years later trust has reached nearly 26 percent.

Wave 8 - October 21, 2010
Trust in the financial system dropped to 25 percent in September from 26 percent in July 2010, the Index’s all-time high.

Wave 7 - July 20, 2010
26 percent of Americans trust the financial system – a gain of 3 percentage points over last quarter’s figure – and trust in all components measured by the Index is on the rise.

Wave 6 - April 30, 2010
Between the passage of sweeping health care reform and an ongoing debate about the projected lifespan of the recession, 23 percent of Americans trust the nation’s financial system, down 2 percent from last quarter’s revised figure, in the midst of dramatic political and economic developments.

Wave 5 - January 27, 2010
In the past year, trust in the financial system has risen since the height of the economic crisis, up to 23 percent in December 2009 from 20 percent in December 2008.

Wave 4 - October 19, 2009
The Financial Trust Index has increased slightly from 21 percent to 22 percent for the period from July to September 2009.

Wave 3 - July 13, 2009
The researchers found that from March to June 2009, the Financial Trust Index has increased slightly from 19 percent to 21 percent. Most notably, the researchers report a jump in trust toward banks and bankers, from 29 percent in March 2009 to 34 percent in June 2009.

Wave 2 - April 8, 2009
The researchers found that from Dec. 2008 to March 2009, the Financial Trust Index has dropped slightly from 20 percent to 19 percent, with its subcomponents showing distinct shifts in trust in both directions.

Wave 1 - January 27, 2009
Measuring Trust: Introducing the Financial Trust Index