Nearly Half of Americans Say They’re Worse Off Under Trump, Highest Share in Poll Since 1986
Nearly half of Americans, 48%, say they are “not as well off” financially as they were when President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the highest share recorded during either of his presidential terms, according to an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 9-13, 2026.
Only 18% of respondents said they were financially better off, compared with 48% who reported being worse off. The survey also found widespread concerns about the affordability of gasoline, groceries and health care. The economic dissatisfaction coincides with Trump’s approval rating falling to a personal low of 33%, while 66% disapprove of his performance. The results come just over two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, when control of Congress will be at stake.
Over 75% of Americans rate the national economy negatively, including 35% who describe it as poor. At least half of respondents consider every household expense category measured in the survey unaffordable. Gasoline recorded one of the largest increases in affordability concerns, with 71% describing it as unaffordable, compared with 28% in February, before the war involving Iran pushed up fuel prices.
Percentage of Americans Who Consider Household Expenses Unaffordable
| Household Expense | February 2026 | October 2026 |
| Gasoline | 28% | 71% |
| Health care | 56% | 65% |
| Groceries | 45% | 60% |
| Home energy and utilities | 45% | 57% |
| Rent or mortgage | 37% | 50% |
Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West said, “Inflation is outstripping wage gains and people are having difficulty paying their bills. Many feel they are falling behind and not able to keep up with the cost of food, gas and healthcare.”
A Gallup survey conducted in April 2026 found that 55% of Americans said their financial situation was getting worse, up from 53% in April 2025 and 47% in April 2024. The figure was the highest in Gallup’s tracking of the measure, which dates back to 2001. Gallup asked whether respondents’ finances were getting worse, while the October poll compared their current circumstances with the start of Trump’s second term.
Trump’s Approval Falls to Lowest Level Across Both Terms
Trump’s 33% approval rating is five percentage points below the 38% recorded immediately after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. A record 52% of Americans strongly disapprove of his performance, matching the level recorded following the Capitol attack.
The decline extends beyond Democratic voters. Among independents, just 22% approve of Trump’s performance, while 76% disapprove, including 58% who strongly disapprove. Republican support remains considerably higher but has weakened. The poll found that 79% of Republicans approve of Trump, down from 88% near the beginning of his second term.
Meanwhile, 21% of Republicans disapprove, compared with 12% in February 2025. Among Republicans who don’t identify with the MAGA movement, 47% disapprove of his performance. Trump received his lowest issue-specific ratings on affordability. Just 21% approve of his handling of the cost of living, while 77% disapprove. On inflation, 23% approve, and 75% disapprove.
Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, said, “What we’re seeing in the public at large is a general economic discontent, regardless of what economic indicators say.”
Democrats Lead Republicans Ahead of November Midterms
Democrats lead Republicans by eight percentage points among likely voters ahead of the Nov. 3 congressional elections. Among likely voters, 52% support the Democratic candidate in their congressional district, compared with 44% who favor the Republican candidate.
The eight-percentage-point Democratic lead represents an increase from a July Washington Post-Ipsos poll, when the two parties were separated by three points. Americans expressed greater confidence in Democrats than Republicans on 10 of the 12 policy issues measured in the latest survey.
Democrats hold a 23-point advantage on health care, a 14-point lead on the cost of living and inflation, and a nine-point advantage on the economy. The latter represents their largest lead on economic management since 2022. The survey also found that 72% of Americans believe the United States is headed in the wrong direction, while 26% say it is moving in the right direction.
Meanwhile, 59% would prefer Democrats to control the next Congress as a check on Trump, compared with 35% who want Republicans to retain control to support his agenda. The poll, conducted Oct. 9-13 among 2,545 U.S. adults, has a reported margin of sampling error of plus or minus two percentage points.
