Americans feel worse off financially than at any point in 25 years, Gallup finds

[Zincwarrior]

Burdened by inflation and lock of job growth, Americans are saying their financial situation is increasingly poor. Numbers are worse than the last three recessions.

Americans feel worse off financially than at any point in 25 years, Gallup finds​

https://www.axios.com/2026/04/28/trump-economy-gallup-finances

The share of Americans who say their financial situation is getting worse is higher now than at any point in the past 25 years, per new Gallup data out Tuesday morning.

Why it matters: Americans are struggling after years of higher inflation and a recent surge in gas prices due to the Iran war — a major challenge for President Trump and Republicans as the midterm elections come into view.



By the numbers: 55% of respondents to a poll conducted April 1-15 said their financial situation is getting worse; that's up from 53% last year and 47% in 2024.

• The number is higher than at any point since 2001, even compared with recessions during the pandemic or in the wake of the financial crisis.

Friction point: This is the fifth consecutive year that more Americans say their finances are worsening rather than improving.

Zoom in: When asked to identify their most important financial problem, 31% cited the cost of living.

• Energy costs are mentioned by 13% of Americans, up 10 percentage points from last year and the highest since 2008.

Reality check: Inflation is still elevated from where it was the last time Trump was in office, but it's certainly lower than at its peak in 2022.

The big picture: Still, the recent surge in gas prices has increased the pressure on American pocketbooks.

 

[wamose]

My life is great. I'm actually trying to find ways to blow some money. But don't worry, it'll come to me.

 

[odanny]

I would say many of those people have nothing invested in the stock market, and if they do, and are still working, then their investments don't matter as they are not helping their present situation.

If you are retired, and have invested in a 401K you can now access, you probably have few complaints.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Burdened by inflation and lock of job growth, Americans are saying their financial situation is increasingly poor. Numbers are worse than the last three recessions.

Americans feel worse off financially than at any point in 25 years, Gallup finds​

https://www.axios.com/2026/04/28/trump-economy-gallup-finances

View attachment 1249352

The share of Americans who say their financial situation is getting worse is higher now than at any point in the past 25 years, per new Gallup data out Tuesday morning.

Why it matters: Americans are struggling after years of higher inflation and a recent surge in gas prices due to the Iran war — a major challenge for President Trump and Republicans as the midterm elections come into view.



By the numbers: 55% of respondents to a poll conducted April 1-15 said their financial situation is getting worse; that's up from 53% last year and 47% in 2024.

• The number is higher than at any point since 2001, even compared with recessions during the pandemic or in the wake of the financial crisis.

Friction point: This is the fifth consecutive year that more Americans say their finances are worsening rather than improving.

Zoom in: When asked to identify their most important financial problem, 31% cited the cost of living.

• Energy costs are mentioned by 13% of Americans, up 10 percentage points from last year and the highest since 2008.

Reality check: Inflation is still elevated from where it was the last time Trump was in office, but it's certainly lower than at its peak in 2022.

The big picture: Still, the recent surge in gas prices has increased the pressure on American pocketbooks.

Trump’s illegal, unwarranted war of choice wastes a billion dollars a day.

Money what could better help Americans deal with rising costs and expenses.

 

[1srelluc]

My life is great. I'm actually trying to find ways to blow some money. But don't worry, it'll come to me.

Yeah, feels good man!

LOL....I saw what I thought was a super rare MAK90 Chi-Com side folding spiker AK this morning for $3400.00 and was gonna pull the trigger on it till I noticed it was not the super rare one but one that had the banned parts put on a regular square-cut MAK-90. I was disappoint!

The guy that brought it in was still there and I offered him $2200.00 but he would not budge.

 

[odanny]

Yeah, feels good man!

LOL....I saw what I thought was a super rare MAK90 Chi-Com side folding spiker AK this morning for $3400.00 and was gonna pull the trigger on it till I noticed it was not the super rare one but one that had the banned parts put on a regular square-cut MAK-90. I was disappoint!

The guy that brought it in was still there and I offered him $2200.00 but he would not budge.

I think that's called a "Chopper".

 

[1srelluc]

I think that's called a "Chopper".

Nah, that would be a Thompson.

 

[1srelluc]

BTW....MSM polls are worthless.

Consumer confidence rose slightly in April, despite high gas prices​

https://www.marketwatch.com/livecoverage/s-p-500-dow-jones-nasdaq-donald-trump-unhappy-iran-proposal-end-war/card/consumer-confidence-rose-slightly-in-april-despite-high-gas-prices-1boPOH2LeVhtpfH7dwHD

 

[Ringo]

 

[schmidlap]

Trump’s illegal, unwarranted war of choice wastes a billion dollars a day.

Money what could better help Americans deal with rising costs and expenses.

Trump's becoming infected with that Cheney/Rumsfeld lust for conquest in the Middle East has made many Americans focus on Trump, rather than be diverted by the relentless Biden demonization.

Voters Now Rate Trump Economy Worse Than Biden’s

 

[sealybobo]

Burdened by inflation and lock of job growth, Americans are saying their financial situation is increasingly poor. Numbers are worse than the last three recessions.

Americans feel worse off financially than at any point in 25 years, Gallup finds​

https://www.axios.com/2026/04/28/trump-economy-gallup-finances

View attachment 1249352

The share of Americans who say their financial situation is getting worse is higher now than at any point in the past 25 years, per new Gallup data out Tuesday morning.

Why it matters: Americans are struggling after years of higher inflation and a recent surge in gas prices due to the Iran war — a major challenge for President Trump and Republicans as the midterm elections come into view.



By the numbers: 55% of respondents to a poll conducted April 1-15 said their financial situation is getting worse; that's up from 53% last year and 47% in 2024.

• The number is higher than at any point since 2001, even compared with recessions during the pandemic or in the wake of the financial crisis.

Friction point: This is the fifth consecutive year that more Americans say their finances are worsening rather than improving.

Zoom in: When asked to identify their most important financial problem, 31% cited the cost of living.

• Energy costs are mentioned by 13% of Americans, up 10 percentage points from last year and the highest since 2008.

Reality check: Inflation is still elevated from where it was the last time Trump was in office, but it's certainly lower than at its peak in 2022.

The big picture: Still, the recent surge in gas prices has increased the pressure on American pocketbooks.

One of trump’s economists said the economy is good and pointed out credit card spending is through the roof. Hafar1014 Harry Dresden Papageorgio

Not really the brag he thinks it is

 

[Harry Dresden]

One of trump’s economists said the economy is good and pointed out credit card spending is through the roof. Hafar1014 Harry Dresden Papageorgio

Not really the brag he thinks it is

why mention me bobo i have zero credit card debt....i bet you have some though...

 

[Zincwarrior]

One of trump’s economists said the economy is good and pointed out credit card spending is through the roof. Hafar1014 Harry Dresden Papageorgio

Not really the brag he thinks it is

Yea, thats typically a sign of recession. Idiots are running the ship.

 

[sealybobo]

Yea, thats typically a sign of recession. Idiots are running the ship.

I mean think about it. Guys like Hafar1014 and Correll will say "consumer spending is good" but before tariffs and the Iran war, people weren't using credit cards to spend. They were spending cash.

U.S. credit card debt has surged to a record $1.28 trillion as of Q4 2025


Q4 rising by $44 billion this quarter alone. This doesn't happen when people are doing better.


Consumers are increasingly relying on credit for everyday expenses, with revolving debt growing at an 9.1% annualized pace as of March 2026. High interest rates (often over 19% APR) are exacerbating this debt.


Trump wants to lower interest rates but his actions are forcing interest rates to go up. Stop the insanity!

 

[Correll]

I mean think about it. Guys like Hafar1014 and Correll will say "consumer spending is good" but before tariffs and the Iran war, people weren't using credit cards to spend. They were spending cash.

U.S. credit card debt has surged to a record $1.28 trillion as of Q4 2025


Q4 rising by $44 billion this quarter alone. This doesn't happen when people are doing better.


Consumers are increasingly relying on credit for everyday expenses, with revolving debt growing at an 9.1% annualized pace as of March 2026. High interest rates (often over 19% APR) are exacerbating this debt.


Trump wants to lower interest rates but his actions are forcing interest rates to go up. Stop the insanity!

I've been skeptical of our consumer based economy for years.