Key Takeaways
- A large majority of Americans feel their incomes are not keeping pace with inflation, and overall economic confidence has fallen to levels not seen since 2023.
- Gas price volatility linked to the Iran‑Strait of Hormuz situation fuels perceptions of economic uncertainty and frustrations with the lack of clear information.
- Two‑thirds of the public believe President Trump’s policies are worsening the economy in the short term; even many Republicans give him low marks on inflation handling.
- Neither party is seen as a reliable solution to the cost‑of‑living squeeze, with a sizable share viewing both Democrats and Republicans as equally ineffective.
- Worries about job security are heightened by fears that artificial intelligence will displace workers, and many Americans—especially those under 50—feel their economic opportunities are worse than those of their parents’ generation.
- Looking ahead, most expect a recession or continued slowdown, describing the economy chiefly as “uncertain” and often as “unfair” rather than “fair.”
Americans are increasingly uneasy about their financial security. Three‑quarters of respondents say their incomes are not keeping up with inflation, a sentiment that has driven overall economic confidence down to its lowest point since 2023. The prevailing mood is one of stress: people describe the national economy as “uncertain,” citing both immediate pressures—such as rising gas prices—and longer‑term anxieties about job prospects, technological disruption, and intergenerational mobility.
A significant source of that uncertainty is the ongoing Iran‑related tension that affects oil markets. Many Americans say they do not receive clear, day‑to‑day information about events in the Strait of Hormuz, and they link the resulting gas‑price swings to a broader sense that the administration is not providing sufficient transparency. While perceptions of any military success in the region are mixed, the prevailing view is that the conflict has not yet delivered tangible economic benefits for the United States.
President Donald Trump’s economic stewardship is drawing sharp criticism. Roughly two‑thirds of the country say his policies are making the economy worse in the short term, and even among Republicans—who still give him high marks on issues like immigration and overall job performance—approval on inflation handling has slipped to 63 %. The public’s emotional response to the administration’s approach leans heavily toward frustration or anger, and Trump’s overall approval rating has dipped to its lowest point of his second term.
Partisan dissatisfaction extends beyond the White House. Neither Democrats nor Republicans are viewed by a majority as effective at alleviating the cost‑of‑living burden. Although Democrats receive a slight edge in this perception, a substantial portion of the electorate believes neither party offers a clear advantage, or they remain unsure. This bipartisan skepticism reinforces the feeling that political leaders are out of touch with everyday financial pressures.
Looking forward, economic pessimism is pervasive. Most respondents anticipate either a recession or a continued slowdown, and the word they most frequently choose to describe the economy is “uncertain,” with “unfair” outpacing “fair” as a descriptor. Concerns about job security are amplified by fears that artificial intelligence will displace workers, a worry that cuts across age groups but is especially pronounced among younger adults.
These anxieties translate into a generational sense of decline. Americans under fifty are more likely than older cohorts to feel that their economic opportunities are worse than those enjoyed by their parents’ generation. The combination of stagnant wage growth, volatile energy prices, geopolitical instability, and technological disruption has eroded confidence in the prospect of upward mobility.
The data come from a CBS News/YouGov survey of 2,064 U.S. adults conducted May 13‑15, 2026. The sample was weighted to match national demographics based on gender, age, race, education, and 2024 presidential vote, yielding a margin of error of ±2.7 percentage points. The findings paint a picture of a populace grappling with multiple, interlocking sources of economic unease, and searching for leadership that can restore a sense of stability and fairness.