PORTLAND – Education was the most important issue to Mainers last spring. Now, as the country recovers from the Sept. 11 attacks, terrorism and the economy have moved to the top of the list.

More than two-thirds of those responding in a new survey believe the economy has grown worse over the past 12 months, compared to 13 percent who felt that way a year ago. And more Mainers believe the economy will get worse than get better, a poll by a Portland market research company suggests.

Critical Insights conducted 400 interviews Sept. 22-26 on a variety of issues. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The Maine Sunday Telegram commissioned some of the questions.

Of those responding, 61 percent said they were concerned that terrorists will attack near where they live or work, and nearly three-quarters support new laws to help fight terrorism, even if it means reducing privacy rights.

Signs that patriotism and faith are having a resurgence seemed to be validated by the survey. Eighty percent said they have displayed the American flag since the terrorist attacks on New York and the nation’s capital, while 40 percent have attended church or prayed.

Also, more than half attended a memorial service, while 63 percent donated money and 10 percent donated blood.

The results show “a very emotional return to community,” said MaryEllen FitzGerald, president of Critical Insights.

“People return to core values in times of crisis. That is what you are seeing here. It’s an instinctive reaction,” FitzGerald said.

In a question commissioned by the Sunday Telegram, 13 percent of those responding said they were “very concerned” that terrorists might commit acts of violence near where they live or work.