With millions of Americans suffering severe economic hardships, the image of a Dickensian holiday season is hard to dismiss. Yet those with the least are surprisingly more optimistic about the future.

According to a Pew Economic Mobility Project study, 68% of blacks and 66% of Hispanics believe their economic circumstances will be better in 10 years while only 48% of whites do.

A study by Demos, a progressive advocacy group, found that while 12% of whites ages 18 to 34 believe they will be better off economically than their parents, three times as many Hispanics and blacks believe so.

Read the full article at usatoday.com.