Gallup polls Americans on industry: food and tech a boon, oil and pharma a bust

     This Oct. 10, 2013, file photo, shows an EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector, a Mylan product, in Hendersonville, Texas. (Mark Zaleski/AP Photo, File)

    This Oct. 10, 2013, file photo, shows an EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector, a Mylan product, in Hendersonville, Texas. (Mark Zaleski/AP Photo, File)

    NewsWorks Tonight host Dave Heller sits down for his weekly conversation with Gallup’s Frank Newport to talk about trends in U.S. opinion.

    Gallup’s annual update on Americans’ views of business and industry sectors, finds that the public remains most positive about restaurants and the computer industry. These top-scoring industries offer Americans enjoyment and efficiency while not stirring up major political controversies.

    Americans are also positive about the grocery industry and farming – food is good!

    Americans’ most negative ratings are reserved for oil and gas, legal, pharma, healthcare in general, and — not shockingly — the federal government, dead last.

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    Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and the average American actually share some ideas in common — specifically, an emphasis on creating more jobs (which the public strongly advocates), an emphasis on spending more in infrastructure (which the public advocates), and opposition to the TPP (which the public actually disagrees with them on).

    There are several indications that Trump may be softening his stance on immigration, one of his signature issues since he first began campaigning. Generally speaking, Trump has called for restricting immigration for specific groups and types of people.

    However, new data show that Americans, broadly speaking, are no more likely now than in the past to want to see the level of immigration into the U.S. decreased. About 38 percent want to see immigration decreased, 38 percent want to keep it the same, and 21 percent want it increased. The general trend over time has been a downtick in the percentage who want immigration decreased.

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