Nearly half of Americans believe their financial security is getting worse, poll finds

Twice arsenic galore Americans judge their financial information is getting worse than better, according to an exclusive caller canvass conducted for nan Guardian, and they are progressively blaming nan White House.

The poll, conducted by Harris, will beryllium a further rustle to Donald Trump’s efforts to conflict disconnected disapproval of his handling of nan system and contains immoderate worrying findings for nan president.

• Nearly half (45%) of Americans said their financial information is getting worse compared to 20% who said it’s getting better.

• 57% of Americans said nan US economy is undergoing a recession, up 11% from a akin canvass that was conducted successful February.

The US is not experiencing a recession, which is typically defined arsenic 2 quarters of antagonistic growth. And past week, nan US posted far stronger than expected economical maturation figures for nan summertime months.

But nan pessimism underscores an economically tumultuous year. Americans person reported emotion shaken by Trump’s tariffs, wide authorities layoffs and a crackdown connected immigration. The Conference Board’s measurement of consumer confidence has dropped for 5 consecutive months.

The White House has insisted that it’s “bringing our system backmost from nan brink of ruin”, arsenic Trump said successful a mid-December speech. “Now, nether our leadership, [prices] are each coming down – and they’re coming down fast,” nan president said.

The caller Harris canvass underscores nan crisp differences betwixt governmental party, gender, title and income that style really group spot nan existent authorities of nan economy. Republicans scored Joe Biden’s handling of nan system acold much harshly than Democrats during his term.

The stark divisions betwixt Democrats and Republicans proceed to persist. Democrats are almost doubly arsenic apt arsenic Republicans to opportunity their financial information is getting worse – 52% versus 27%.

But much concerningly for Republicans, who will person to conflict adjacent twelvemonth to support their mostly successful Congress, Trump hasn’t been capable to sway independents. A mostly (54%) of independents said their financials are worsening, +9% compared pinch February’s polling. Most independents (58%) besides judge nan state is experiencing a recession.

And much of nan blasted is being placed connected nan White House than ever before. When asked to take betwixt nan authorities aliases corporations for nan mobility “who is astir responsible for immoderate expanding prices”:

• 76% of Democrats said it was authorities guidance of nan economy, +17% from February’s poll.

• 72% of independents besides pointed to nan government, +14% from February.

• Republicans were little apt to constituent to nan government, pinch 55% saying it was authorities (-6% compared to February) and 45% blaming firm practices.

Analysis aft nan 2024 predetermination showed Trump summation pinch women and Hispanic voters. But successful different worrying motion for Republicans, complete nan people of his first year, these voters person soured connected nan economy.

While Americans wide person grown much pessimistic this year, women are acold little assured astir nan system than men. Nearly two-thirds of women (62%) judge nan US is experiencing a recession, +12% from February, compared pinch 52% of men who judge nan same. And half of women (50%) judge their financial information is getting worse while 39% of men judge nan same.

Stark group gaps are seen for beliefs connected nan wide authorities of nan US economy. Two-thirds of Black and Hispanic voters (66% and 67%, respectively) deliberation nan US is successful a recession, compared pinch 52% of achromatic voters. The jump for Hispanic voters was +11% from February, nan highest jump among immoderate race.

The canvass besides highlighted what immoderate economists person referred to arsenic nan K-shaped economy – nan disagreement successful economical sentiment betwixt able Americans, who are nan largest beneficiaries of a booming banal market, and everyone else. Of those who are making little than $50,000 a year, 59% said their financial information is getting worse, +13% compared to February’s poll. In comparison, 37% of those making complete $100,000 said things are getting worse.

This study was conducted online wrong nan US by The Harris Poll from 11 to 13 December 2025, among a nationally typical sample of 2,180 US adults.