Gallup: Americans worried more about economy than environment

Americans continue to be more concerned with economic growth than the environment, according to a new Gallup survey.

With the economy seemingly on the upswing, Gallup reported that 49 percent of Americans sided with the economy, compared to 41 percent who prioritized the environment. The polling company had found that Americans favored the economy by a wider 18 percentage point margin in 2011.

Before the 2008 fiscal crisis, Gallup found more of a concern over the environment for years. Prior to 2000, at least 60 percent of respondents routinely said environmental concerns were more of a priority. Gallup also found respondents more concerned with the economy in 2009, with the environment being more of a concern during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

As a whole, independents were split evenly on the question, while Democrats backed the environment and Republicans expressed more concern about the economy. Those under 30 (53 percent) were also roughly twice as likely to be worried about the environment than respondents 65 and over (27 percent.)

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