Oregon Survey Exposes Growing Anxiety Over Economic And Consumer Struggles

Future prospects look somewhat bleak to 32% of Oregonians who believe that their families will be ‘worse off’ when looking ahead to the next year. This represents an increase of eight percent compared to the previous year, according to a statewide survey.

The survey was conducted by the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center, which asked 1,897 adults about ways to improve consumer rights through advocacy, legal support, community engagement, and consumer outreach.

What the survey revealed is that respondents aged 55+ are more likely to say ‘worse off’ when asked about their future well-being.

Men and BIPOC Are More Optimistic

The optimists about current and future well-being are Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and men who generally responded with ‘better off.’

When asked what could be done to improve consumer justice in Oregon, respondents most frequently mentioned educational opportunities on consumer rights, and easier access to information online and in-person.

Consumers Want Stronger Action Against Fraud, Scams, and Unfair Business Practices

Respondents also emphasized the need for stronger enforcement against fraud, scams, and unfair business practices.

Equitable and affordable access to legal services, as well as government/advocacy engagement, were other improvements suggested by those interviewed.

More than half of Oregonians report having experienced some form of unfair or illegal treatment in the past year – scams or fraud (23%), issues such as false pricing with grocery, food, and beverage (22%), unfair or illegal treatment related either to debt collection (13%), banking and other financial services (11%), or telecommunications (10%).

When consumers have the knowledge and tools to make informed choices, they play a crucial role in creating a safer marketplace for everyone to thrive, according to the Oregon Consumer Justice (OCJ) agency.