Americans’ evaluations of the economy remain negative

Americans remain in a sour mood about the economy – roughly a quarter (24%) rate economic conditions in the country today as excellent or good, while 41% say they are “only fair” and 35% describe them as poor. Americans’ views of economic conditions remain negative as Republicans’ positive ratings slip % who say economic conditions in the country today are excellent/good Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Americans’ views of economic conditions remain negative as Republicans’ positive ratings slip % who say economic conditions in the country today are excellent/good DateTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem2026-07-122441102026-01-262849102025-09-282644102025-04-142336112025-02-022418302024-09-022510412024-05-192310372024-01-212813442023-04-021910282023-01-182112312022-10-17179262022-07-04135202022-01-172820362021-09-192616342021-04-203736392021-03-012325212020-11-173656192020-10-063357132020-06-23254692020-04-072337112020-01-195781392019-09-295675412019-08-045783372018-11-165974482018-10-075675442017-03-124137442016-11-08321846 Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Positive ratings are slightly lower than in January, when 28% rated the economy as excellent or good. Still, Americans’ economic ratings have hovered around this level for the last few years. The recent drop is primarily driven by a shift among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents: 41% now rate the economy as excellent or good, down from 49% in January. Just 10% of Democrats and Democratic leaners rate the economy positively, essentially unchanged since early in President Donald Trump’s term. A new Pew Research Center survey, conducted July 6-12 among 3,554 U.S. adults, also findsthat Americans are less likely than they were in January to expect the economy to improve over the course of the next year. 23% now say they expect economic conditions to be better a year from now, down from 31% in January. 36% say they expect conditions to be worse a year from now, little changed from January (38%). These views come as Americans remain concerned about the costs of healthcare, housing, food and energy. Concerns about gas prices, in particular, have risen sharply since January (before the U.S. military action against Iran). Note: U.S. gas prices had declined somewhat prior to the survey’s field period, but have risen steadily in recent weeks as military actions have escalated in the region and the price of crude oil has risen. The economy is also front and center in many voters’ minds as the 2026 midterm elections approach. For more on views of the midterms, read the accompanying key findings. Trump’s economic policies Growing share of Republicans say Trump’s economic policies have made the economy worse % who say that since taking office, Donald Trump’s economic policies have made economic conditions … Note: No answer responses are not shown. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Growing share of Republicans say Trump’s economic policies have made the economy worse % who say that since taking office, Donald Trump’s economic policies have made economic conditions … GroupDateBetterWorseNot had much of an effectTotalSep ’25245322TotalJan ’26285219TotalJul ’26206019Rep/Lean RepSep ’25471933Rep/Lean RepJan ’26571825Rep/Lean RepJul ’26422829Dem/Lean DemSep ’2538710Dem/Lean DemJan ’2638512Dem/Lean DemJul ’262898 Note: No answer responses are not shown. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Six-in-ten Americans now say that Trump’s economic policies have worsened economic conditions in the country. This is up from the 52% who said this in January and the 53% who held this view last fall. Most Republicans continue to say Trump’s policies have either improved economic conditions (42%) or not had much of an effect (29%). But GOP views have become less positive since January. The share of Republicans who say Trump’s policies have worsened conditions has risen from 18% to 28%, while the share saying they have improved conditions has fallen from 57% to 42%. The vast majority of Democrats continue to say Trump’s economic policies have made the economy worse (89% say this today). Americans’ economic concerns Large majorities of Americans remain very concerned about the cost of healthcare, food and consumer goods, and housing. And concern about gas prices has risen sharply: 56% now say they are very concerned about this, up from 34% in January. While Americans continue to be very concerned about the cost of healthcare, housing and food, concerns about gas prices have also risen % who say they are very concerned about each of the following economic issues in the country today Note: Question about AI was not asked in January. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER While Americans continue to be very concerned about the cost of healthcare, housing and food, concerns about gas prices have also risen % who say they are very concerned about each of the following economic issues in the country today % very concernedJan ’26Jul ’26The cost of healthcare7169The price of food and consumer goods6666The cost of housing6264The price of gasoline3456The price of electricity5154The role of AI in the economy—49People who want to work being unable to find jobs4544How the stock market is doing2018 Note: Question about AI was not asked in January. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER A narrower majority (54%) of adults say they are very concerned about the price of electricity, while 49% say they are very concerned about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the economy. More than four-in-ten (44%) express a high level of concern about people who want to work not being able to find employment. In contrast, relatively few Americans (18%) say they are very concerned about how the stock market is doing. Partisan differences on economic concerns As has been the case since the start of Trump’s second term, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to express concern about most of the economic issues asked about in the survey. The widest partisan gaps are on unemployment and the costs of healthcare, housing, and food and other goods. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to express concern about most economic issues % who say they are very concerned about each of the following economic issues in the country today Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Democrats are more likely than Republicans to express concern about most economic issues % who say they are very concerned about each of the following economic issues in the country today % very concernedRep/Lean RepDem/Lean DemThe cost of healthcare5878The price of food and consumer goods5575The cost of housing5273The price of gasoline4760The price of electricity4857The role of AI in the economy4553People who want to work being unable to find jobs2957How the stock market is doing1817 Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER On other issues – like the price of gasoline, electricity and the role of AI in the economy – Democrats express more concern than Republicans, but by smaller margins. Roughly equal shares of Democrats (17%) and Republicans (18%) say they are very concerned about how the stock market is doing. For full trends on economic concerns by party, refer to Additional charts. Additional charts Americans’ economic optimism has declined % who say they expect that economic conditions in this country will be __ a year from now Note: No answer responses are not shown. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER Americans’ economic optimism has declined % who say they expect that economic conditions in this country will be __ a year from now GroupDateBetterWorseAbout the same as nowTotalFeb ’25403723TotalApr ’25364519TotalSep ’25294624TotalJan ’26313830TotalJul ’26233640Rep/Lean RepFeb ’2573918Rep/Lean RepApr ’25651520Rep/Lean RepSep ’25551926Rep/Lean RepJan ’26571428Rep/Lean RepJul ’26411939Dem/Lean DemFeb ’25106426Dem/Lean DemApr ’2587417Dem/Lean DemSep ’2567321Dem/Lean DemJan ’2686230Dem/Lean DemJul ’2675340 Note: No answer responses are not shown. Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER The cost of healthcare, goods and housing remain top economic concerns % who say they are very concerned about each of the following economic issues in the country today Note: Since January 2026, half of respondents have been asked about “the price of gasoline and energy” while the other half have been asked separately about “the price of gasoline” and “the price of electricity.” Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER The cost of healthcare, goods and housing remain top economic concerns % who say they are very concerned about each of the following economic issues in the country today People who want to work being unable to find jobsTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/264429571/26/264532599/28/254226574/13/254128549/2/244042381/21/243130324/2/232722291/24/2330253410/16/222925337/4/222726289/19/21292334The cost of housingTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/266452731/26/266254719/28/256151714/13/256151719/2/246972661/21/246463664/2/236158641/24/2360556510/16/226057627/4/226059619/19/21The price of gasoline and energyTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/266049681/26/264340479/28/254536534/13/254640511/21/245164401/24/2360724810/16/22698058The price of food and consumer goodsTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/266655751/26/266655759/28/256552774/13/256757789/2/247485641/21/247282634/2/237278661/24/2375816910/16/22738166How the stock market is doingTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/261818171/26/262020229/28/251915234/13/253624499/2/242431171/21/241823144/2/232431181/24/2326342010/16/223243247/4/22314123The cost of healthcareTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/266958781/26/26716182The price of gasolineTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/265647601/26/26343036The price of electrictyTotalRep/Lean RepDem/Lean Dem7/12/265448571/26/26514556 Note: Since January 2026, half of respondents have been asked about “the price of gasoline and energy” while the other half have been asked separately about “the price of gasoline” and “the price of electricity.” Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026. PEW RESEARCH CENTER