The latest Economist / YouGov Poll finds that roughly half (49%) of Americans say the current state of the American economy is poor, the largest share since July 2022. Only 20% describe the economy as excellent (4%) or good (16%).
Democrats (66%) and Independents (59%) are far more likely than Republicans (20%) to say the state of the economy is poor. But some Republicans have more-negative views. Among MAGA Republicans — Republicans who say they are MAGA supporters — only 14% say the economy is poor and 54% say it is excellent or good; 30% say fair. Among non-MAGA Republicans, 26% say poor and only 27% say excellent or good; 46% say fair.
63% of Americans say the economy is getting worse, compared with 14% who say it is getting better and 18% who say it is about the same.
Out of five areas asked about in the poll, inflation is where Donald Trump's handling is rated lowest. 26% of Americans strongly or somewhat approve of how he is handling inflation and 68% disapprove, for a net approval of -42. By comparison, Trump's net approval is -31 on Iran, -31 on health care, -21 on civil rights, and -13 on immigration.
MAGA and non-MAGA Republicans diverge in their opinion of Trump's handling of inflation. Net approval of his handling of inflation is +66 among MAGA Republicans, compared to -33 among non-MAGA Republicans. The two groups are closest in their rating of Trump's handling of immigration, with a net approval of +84 among MAGA Republicans and +54 among non-MAGA Republicans.
54% of Americans say the war in Iran is hurting the U.S. economy a great deal, 28% say it is hurting it some, 14% a little, and 4% not at all. Democrats (80%) and Independents (58%) are far more likely than Republicans (23%) to say the U.S. economy is being hurt a great deal by the Iran war.
The poll offers Americans a list of 15 issues and asks which is the most important for them. 45% pick the major economic issues of inflation, jobs, and the economy — 33% inflation/prices and 12% jobs and the economy. Separately, we ask Americans to say in their own words what they think is the most important problem facing the U.S. today, and with this prompt fewer name inflation, jobs, or the economy. With the help of an AI tool to analyze responses, we find that about 35% of Americans give an answer about inflation or the economy; the next most common answers are about presidential leadership (14%) and about political polarization (9%).
Image: Getty (Michael M. Santiago / Staff)
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