Poll: Americans want Obama, Congress to focus on economy

Americans want President Obama and Congress to make the economy their top priority, a new poll found.

The poll, conducted by the Pew Research Center, found that 87 percent of Americans say that improving the economy should be the No. 1 issue President Obama and Congress tackle. Nearly the same number of Americans (84 percent) say that jobs should also be high on the government's priority list.

But a much smaller majority of Americans think the economy will improve soon. The poll found that 54 percent of Americans are optimistic about the country's long-term economic prospects. In April, Pew found that 61 percent of Americans were optimistic about the country's economic future.

A smaller majority of Americans consider healthcare a top priority. The poll found that 61 percent of Americans want Obama and Congress to make Medicare and healthcare costs the top priority, a smaller majority than that for terrorism and education.