Economic woes of the US led West

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHFNLmRkApE
Americans' assessments of the economy's direction slipped slightly last week to a net score of -6 from -4 the prior week.
Last week's reading reflects 50% of Americans saying the economy is getting worse. Americans have been more likely to say the economy is getting worse than getting better in each weekly average since Gallup began Daily tracking in 2008.
The US Labor Department reported Thursday that new claims for unemployment benefits jumped by the highest amount in six months. The same day, the retail giant Walmart said its sales tumbled unexpectedly in the first quarter of the year.