Harris Poll COVID-19 Tracker Wave 136

In The Harris Poll Tracker survey fielded from September 30th to October 2nd, 2022, among 1,998 U.S. adults, we find a heightened concern about the economy and inflation (90%, +4%-pts v. last week) and a potential U.S. recession (86%, +5%-pts) far well-outpacing concern over a potential new COVID variant (59%) or Monkeypox (45%). Yet, with the stock market’s mid-week bounce, we are interested to see public sentiment brightens this upcoming weekend. 

Here’s what else you need to know this week:

Frustrated by the slow pace and access to funding, cash-crunched small businesses are looking for loans beyond traditional banking institutions. (They told us they’d love an Amazon bank).

Also, so much for being young and carefree. New Harris/Fortune polling finds Millennial parents squeezed between caring for their children and their parents, all amid rising inflation and economic uncertainty. 

And in a new Harris study with Marketing Brew, we chart golf’s rebrand into a more fun, accessible game. (But does that include less obnoxious-looking pants?)

Then lastly, we cover our latest index in partnership with IBM that details the state of the hybrid cloud for businesses and the concerns IT pros have over its security and compliance. 

Check out our America This Week: From The Harris Poll podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with Harris Poll CEO and CSO Libby Rodney on this week’s data and more.

Cash-Strapped SMBs Look Away From Traditional Banks: Unit-Harris Poll

In a new report with Unit, traditional banks aren’t working for America’s small businesses in the midst of rising interest rates and lack of access to capital.

• America’s small businesses worry over the economic climate: (77%) of small-business owners are concerned about the impact of inflation on their businesses, with nearly as many (71%) worried about the potential impact of an economic downturn.
• As such, nearly two-thirds (62%) of SMBs say they are seeking additional financing, and (68%) say they need faster access to funds – especially as over a third (37%) are worried about running out of cash in the next year if they can’t get access soon.
• The DMV diss: Nearly a third (31%) say they would rather wait in line at the DMV than apply for a loan from a traditional bank.

• SMBs are looking for a Bank of Amazon: (71%) of small-business owners believe they should be able to get a business loan as quickly as they can order something online.
• And (84%) would be open to getting financial services from companies other than traditional banks – like technology companies, e-commerce platforms, and business software tools.
• Small silver lining: Nearly two-thirds say that the current economic environment also creates new opportunities for their businesses.

Takeaway: Given the rise of retail investing and crypto, where individuals found ways to route around traditional financial institutions, there is a considerable market opportunity for tech companies to hone in on SMB owners who are dissatisfied with their current banking solutions by offering better financing, faster payments, and consolidation of financial management to one platform. And there’s no shortage of a marketplace. America’s small businesses account for 44% of U.S economic activity, according to SBA.gov.

The Millennial Sandwich: Fortune-Harris Poll

In our new Harris study with Fortune, one-third (32%) of Millennials (ages 26-41) are raising children under the age of 18 while regularly caring for their aging parents in some capacity. But that’s not the only challenge they are contending with:

• Three-quarters of Millennials with minor children (77%) worry about affording their living expenses, and over half of those employed chafe over possibly losing their job (57% v. gen pop: 45%). 
• And two-thirds of Millennial parents with minor children fret over their retirement savings (65%) and their short-term savings (63%). 
• Dreams deferred: Just over half (59%) of Millennials caring for minor children believe that the overall American Dream is attainable today.
• But my kids will be better off:  Millennials with minor children (86%) believe their child(ren) ‘s future income and wealth will be better than their own.  

Takeaway: “In our (Harris) polling, the number of Americans in the sandwich generation will likely increase in the coming years, especially as millennials enter this stage of life. Fortune’s survey found that seven in 10 Americans with at least one living parent say they expect to help their aging parents regularly in the future. That sentiment jumps to 88% among millennials,” says FORTUNE.

No Ifs, Ands, or Putts – Golf Gets A Rebrand: Marketing Brew-Harris Poll

It’s been more than forty years since the release of Caddyshack. Since then, golf has looked much different than it did, with many modern-era golf brands looking to attract those who want novel experiences, according to our latest survey with Marketing Brew. 

• Less pale, stale, male: Even while the game of golf continues to lean towards wealthier and male Americans (37%, 33%, respectively), nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) believe the sport is becoming more diverse and more inclusive (66%). 
• Speed it up, make it cheaper: Among Americans who don’t golf, a third (35%) say they don’t because it’s too dull and slow of a game, (33%) say it’s too expensive to play, and one in five (21%) say the game is too time-consuming.
• Disruptors hit the fairway: Golf brands like Topgolf and Five Iron are trying to make the game seem less stuffy, Eastside Golf is working to inspire culture and promote diversity in the game, and Puffingtons is looking to combine cannabis and golf. 
• And don’t forget the new Saudi LIV Golf League, where fans are encouraged to act like they’re at a Foo Fighters concert.  

Takeaway: “While there’s still work ahead, the sport is attracting new players, thanks in part to emerging golf brands that are focusing more on creating fun, accessible experiences than perpetuating old-fashioned trends like plaid knickers or pom-pom hats” (Marketing Brew). 

The State of the Cloud: IBM-Harris Poll

We partnered with IBM and the IBM Institute for Business Value on the creation of its IBM Transformation Index: State of Cloud, in which global business leaders found hybrid cloud is critical to modernization, yet security, skills, and compliance concerns impede success.

• Context: The index is based on our research with more than 3,000 IT and business decision-makers in 12 countries and 23 industries, revealing the areas where teams face the biggest challenges and opportunities.
• A definitive (86%) of organizations say they have proven at least the initial benefits of cloud, but one company’s cloud journey may not be another’s:

• Talent shortages are creating a gap in cloud security/strategy: About (70%) of executives say their teams lack the skills to be proficient in cloud. 
• A hybrid cloud is the model of choice: (56%) of respondents have already adopted a hybrid cloud, and (80%) are moving workloads from the public cloud back to some form of private infrastructure.

Takeaway: Moving forward, there’s no more “easy button” as many enterprises have exhausted the cloud’s low-hanging fruit and must move to more complex cloud endeavors even as they lack the in-house skills to do so. Action plans will vary from company to company. Still, a few first moves commonly apply: deep cloud, avoiding bolt-ons, creating more seats at the table, and insisting on zero trust security.