Washington, Dec 26 (IANS): Heading into 2013, only a half of the Americans are "hopeful" about their lives in the new year before the start of US President Barack Obama's second term, which is less than four years ago, a poll showed Tuesday.

The new Washington Post/ABC News poll showed a bare 53 percent majority of Americans are "hopeful" about what the future holds for them in 2013 while about 44 percent say they are instead more "fearful", reported Xinhua.

The number of those hopeful is down sharply from four years ago when 63 percent believed so in the wake of the start of President Obama's first term. This is also the least optimistic figure over a decade, down from the record high of 80 percent in 2001 of the respondents who said they were hopeful about the year ahead.

Asked what will be in store for the world in general, the answers signal even more worries, with a record low at 40 percent hopeful and 56 percent fearful.