Inflation has been Americans' most important issue for four years and its importance has reached a new high, according to the latest Economist / YouGov Poll. 37% of Americans pick inflation/prices from a list of 15 issues as the one most important to them, the largest share since the poll added the option in July 2022. The share saying inflation is their top issue is up from 32% in last week's poll and from a 2026 average of 29%.
Nearly half (47%) of Americans say the economy is in poor shape, equaling the highest share since September 2023.
Economic issues are weak points for Donald Trump. Of the issues whose handling by Trump the Economist / YouGov Poll has tracked since June, inflation/prices is his worst: Only 26% of Americans strongly or somewhat approve of the way he is handling it and 69% disapprove, for a net approval of -43. The economy is the area with Trump's next lowest net approval at -36, followed by government spending at -34.
Trump's net approval on economic issues fall below his standing overall: 35% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance and 60% disapprove, for a net of -25. His net approval on the economy is 10 points behind that.
That's a reversal from Trump's first term. At the same point in that term, according to the October 7 - 9, 2018 Economist / YouGov Poll, Trump's net approval on the economy was +9 and his overall net approval was -10, putting his approval on the economy 19 points ahead of his overall approval.
Among Democrats, Trump's net approval on the economy is -92. Among Independents, he's at -55, and among Republicans, at +36.
Republicans are sharply split among themselves on Trump's handling of the economy. MAGA Republicans — Republicans who say they are MAGA supporters — approve of Trump's handling of the economy by 83% to 15%. Non-MAGA Republicans disapprove, 60% to 34%. On inflation/prices, MAGA Republicans approve by 68% to 27%, while non-MAGA Republicans disapprove by 66% to 32%.
Non-MAGA Republicans have a more negative perception than MAGA Republicans of the trend of the economy: 49% say the economy is getting worse, compared to 20% of MAGA Republicans. Also, 49% of non-MAGA Republicans pick inflation/prices as the issue most important to them, compared to 31% of MAGA Republicans.
Image: Getty (Scott Olson / Staff)
What do you really think about President Trump, American politics in general, and everything else? Share your reality, join the YouGov panel, and get paid to share your thoughts. Sign up here.
