(HIGH POINT) -- A High Point University survey shows North Carolina residents are becoming more pessimistic concerning their personal finances and business conditions.  Of the 413 adults polled in the survey, only 24 percent said they expect to be financially better off in a year.

Dr. Martin Kifer, Director of the Survey Research Center at High Point University, said that number was 31 percent when the question was asked in April 2010. "We see that kind of across the board when we ask people about whether or not the next 12 months will be good times for business conditions or whether or not people expect widespread unemployment or pretty good times in the economy. They are as pessimistic as we have seen them," said Kifer.

In the most recent survey, only 13 percent of those questioned said they thought the next 12 months would bring good times for business conditions and most said they believe the country is on the wrong track.

(WSJS)