More half of Americans worry about maintaining their standard ofliving, according to a new poll.

Gallup Inc., Washington, D.C., published thisfinding in a summary of results from Jan. 5-8 poll. Since 1991,Gallup has periodically asked Americans about financial events thatconcern them. The trend includes updates in January of fourpresidential election years: 1992, 2004, 2008, and 2012.

Americans' worries about maintaining their standard of living(51%), being able to pay medical bills (43%) or losing their job(34%) in the next 12 months are among the highest Gallup hasmeasured in the past 20 years, on par with the levels seen in 1991and 1992, Gallup says.

Americans' economic anxiety today is most similar to what it wasin 1992, though Americans are slightly less worried about not beingable to pay medical bills now (43%) than they were then (48%).

The late January/early February 2008 survey was conducted as theU.S. was in the beginning of an economic recession and Americanswere becoming increasingly worried about the economy, butbefore the financial crisis unfolded later that year.

Americans were less worried at that time than they are now aboutlosing a job (23% versus 34%) and paying medical bills (33% versus43%). But Americans are as worried about not being able to maintaintheir standard of living (50% versus 51%).

Gallup says that Americans' financial concerns remain high evenas economic confidence is improving.

The poll also included three items -- worry about home valuesnot increasing, worry about outliving one's money after retiring,and worry that the economy will get worse in the next year -- inaddition to the core items that date to 1991.

Of the six items, Americans are most worried that the economywill get worse, at 72%, followed by outliving their money inretirement (57%).

The 51% worried about home values not increasing matches thepercentage worried about not being able to maintain their standardof living.