Latinos who view their financial situation as "excellent" or "good" have doubled since the Great Recession, according to a new Pew Research Center study.

The nonpartisan group found eight-in-ten Hispanic adults expect their finances to be straightened out within the next year, up from 67 percent in 2008 and about 20 percentage-points higher than Americans overall. Optimism grew over the last eight years, but most of the U.S. population didn't feel a significant difference; just 43 percent hold similarly positive views, compared to 41 percent then.

"Economic issues have long been among the top issues identified by Hispanics when asked about those that are important to them personally," researchers wrote. "For example, in 2014, the issues of education and the economy and jobs were rated more important than health care and immigration among registered voters."

The telephone survey of 1,500 adult Latinos was taken between October and November last year. The general population interview occurred in December.

Spending Power Increases

Like most Americans, Latinos visualize a brighter future for their children. Their outlook is more positive now than it was before the Great Recession skyrocketed the unemployment rate near 10 percent.

And they're spending with ease.

Latinos have more buying power than any other minority group in the country. In 2014 they accounted for $1.3 trillion of market spending, equaling the economy of all but 15 countries. Aside from outpacing the second-biggest minority spenders- African Americans ($1.1 trillion) - economists project Hispanics to make up 10.6 percent of U.S. buying power by 2019, coinciding with U.S. Census Bureau data that has them as the country's majority within the next half-century.

Cost of Living Disparities Remain

Yet obstacles remain in gaining financial peace of mind.

Pew researchers note Latinos lag behind the U.S. public on income, wealth, and educational attainment, and the Hispanic poverty rate still hovers near 23 percent. Latinos, more than any other ethnic group, lost a great share of their wealth once the recession hit.

While most said they felt "good" or "excellent" about their finances, half said their family income cannot keep up with a rising cost of living.

"Between 2014 and 2015, Hispanic views of family income in relation to cost of living were unchanged - about half of all Hispanic adults in both years aid they were falling behind financially, as was true for the U.S. public as a whole," the study said.

Optimism wanes among college-educated Latinos. Eight-five percent with college credits expect improvements over the next year, compared with high school graduates (80 percent) and those without a high school diploma (77 percent).

Conversely, Latinos with little or no college experience believe their children's financial future to be secure; 75 percent of immigrants expect their children will be better off.