PORTLAND (AP) — A new survey shows that nearly half of Mainers believe they are worse off than a year ago.

Market Decisions’ poll of 400 Mainers was conducted from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2. While 48 percent saw themselves as worse off, only 27 percent expect to be better off in the next year.

More than half of those polled expect the state and the country to have bad times financially over the next year.

And 57 percent expect periods of widespread unemployment and depression in the next five years.

The Portland polling firm says consumer confidence has rebounded from the historic lows of April, July and October 2008, but it still remains low.