New poll of Americans’ top priorities for 2018 has education at No. 2 — ahead of the economy

A new poll of American adults released Thursday by the Washington-based Pew Research Center shows that the economy is not the No. 1 public priority for 2018. Fighting terrorism is No. 1, and No. 2 is improving education.

In a report explaining the poll, Pew said:

The public’s improving economic outlook is reflected in its policy agenda for President Trump and Congress in the coming year. Economic issues — improving the job situation, strengthening the economy and reducing the budget deficit — are viewed as less important policy priorities than they were just a few years ago.

Other issues, which had been less prominent public priorities in the past, have grown in importance. The share of Americans saying that protecting the environment should be a top policy priority has increased 18 percentage points since 2010 (from 44% to 62%), and seven points in the past year alone.

The poll of 1,503 adults was taken Jan. 10-15, 2018, the report said.

The percentage of Americans viewing the economy as a top priority is less in 2018 than it was four years ago, when it was at 80 percent, or eight years ago, when it was 83 percent.

There were wide educational gaps on the responses about the importance of several priorities, including reducing crime and strengthening the military.