Americans Don't Have Positive Financial Outlook

The number of Americans with a positive outlook on their financial situation is declining, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Only 50 percent of consumers expressed better feelings concerning their financial situation, which is less than was reported during the previous month, Gallup said. According to the research firm, the same sort of decline is expected for June, which does not bode well for Americans' overall financial well-being.

There were several factors that led to half of the population feeling dismal about their finances, Gallup said. One of the reasons included not having enough money to do with what they please. Only 34 percent reported being in that situation. However, just over 75 percent reported they did have enough to purchase necessary items.

Almost a quarter of Americans worry that they spend beyond their means, and only 47 percent believe their standard of living is improving, Gallup reported. Some factors that may have contributed to the decrease in positive financial outlooks include the stock market decline in May and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

If consumers are concerned that they may need to seek debt relief due to their financial situation, they should seek out the help of a financial counselor.