Washington (CNN) -- Americans have typically been optimists about the future, but when it comes to how things are going in the country, a new national survey suggests that may no longer be the case.
A CNN/ORC International Poll released Thursday indicates that only 44% of Americans believe things will be going well in the country a year from now.
That's down from last fall, when 55% were optimistic about the coming year, and from November, 2009, when 63% felt that way.
Not surprisingly, Americans also have a gloomy view of current conditions.
Only one in four say things are going well in the country today, with 74% saying things are going badly, according to the survey.
"But Americans have a much rosier view of their own lives, CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said.
"Seventy-eight percent say that things are going well for them personally, a number that has remained remarkably steady throughout Barack Obama's presidency."
The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International from November 11-13, with 1,036 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.
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