A new national poll shows widespread pessimism about economic conditions, with inflation emerging as the top issue across political groups.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A majority of Americans believe economic conditions are deteriorating, according to a recent national survey conducted by The Economist and YouGov, which found 61% of respondents say the economy is getting worse.
The figure represents the highest level of economic pessimism recorded by the poll since 2022 and marks the largest share expressing that view during either term of President Donald Trump. The weekly tracking survey has asked the same question consistently since June 2017.
Responses varied by political affiliation, though concern was widespread. Among Democrats, 87% said the economy is worsening, while 64% of independents and 53% of Republicans who do not identify as MAGA supporters shared that view. In contrast, a majority of Republicans who identify with the MAGA movement—51%—said they believe the economy is improving, while 20% said it is getting worse.
The poll also examined political identity within the Republican Party, finding that 60% of Republicans identify as MAGA supporters, compared with 29% who do not and 10% who are unsure.
Inflation ranked as the leading economic concern across all groups. Thirty-one percent of respondents identified rising prices as the most important issue, the highest level recorded since the survey began tracking the question in 2022. Concern about inflation was relatively consistent across party lines, with 34% of Democrats, 29% of independents, and 31% of Republicans naming it as their top issue.
Public opinion on the president’s handling of inflation was notably negative. The survey found that 25% of Americans either strongly or somewhat approve of how Trump is addressing inflation and prices, while 69% disapprove. This marks the lowest approval rating for inflation management during his current term and is lower than his approval on overall economic performance.
Among Republicans, 60% expressed approval of Trump’s handling of inflation, compared to 36% who disapproved. Independent voters showed a different trend, with 75% disapproving. Within the MAGA-aligned group, 75% approved of his approach, while 22% did not.
The poll also reported an overall job approval rating of 36% for Trump, with 56% disapproving, representing the lowest approval level recorded during his second term.
The Economist/YouGov survey was conducted from May 1 through May 4 and included 1,573 respondents. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
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