Afghans Sour On Economy As Growth Slows

A new poll shows a majority of Afghans view their economic prospects as grim and getting worse.

A Gallup poll issued on January 21 showed that 67 percent of Afghans believe the economy is worsening while only 6 percent of respondents said it is improving.

The poll comes as Afghanistan in 2014 registered its lowest economic growth -- a projected 1.5 percent -- since 2002.

Afghanistan registered about 9 percent growth from 2003 to 2012 before slumping in 2013 to 3.7 percent.

The Gallup poll surveyed some 1,000 Afghans in various parts of the country in August and September 2014.

The most optimistic Afghans lived in the southern provinces, where 31 percent said it is a "good time" to find a job, while only 13 percent of respondents in central and eastern provinces said it was a "good time" to find work.