U.S. — Sixty-one percent of the public is pessimistic about the current state of the economy and the outlook for the future, according to the All-America Economic Survey. This 61 percent pessimism rate represents the highest recorded level since December 2023.

The survey data indicates that 25 percent of the public is optimistic about the economy now and for the future. More voters expect things to get worse by a 41/29 percent margin, leaving the electorate in a distinctly sour mood heading into the midterm election cycle, said Micah Roberts, partner at Public Opinion Strategies.

Forty-seven percent of the public report cutting back on essential items, such as food and medical care. This figure represents an increase of six percentage points from the April survey. Two-thirds of respondents say they are reducing purchases of non-essentials, such as eating out and entertainment. The reduction in non-essential purchases is an increase of five percentage points from the April survey.

The financial strain appears across income brackets, though with varying intensity. Thirty-five percent of respondents with incomes above $100,000 are reducing their outlays for essentials. People are still paying a lot more for stuff than they were a year and a half ago, two years ago, and that's recent enough in memory that it still hurts and it still drives a lot of anger, said Jay Campbell, partner at Hart Research.

Voter sentiment regarding leadership on economic issues shows significant disapproval. Sixty percent of respondents disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, while 38 percent approve. The public disapproves of Trump's handling of inflation and the cost of living by a 68 percent to 31 percent margin.

In terms of legislative control, the Democratic Party has a 4-point advantage in voter preference for control of Congress. This 4-point Democratic advantage in congressional preference is unchanged from the April survey. It means Democrats have an advantage at this point now, five months out from the election, but it's not an overwhelming advantage, said Jay Campbell.

The parties hold different leads on specific policy issues. Democrats have a 7-point lead on the issue of the cost of food and groceries. Democrats have a 3-point lead on the issue of protecting democracy.

Republicans lead by 22 points on the issue of immigration and border security. Democrats have a 6-point lead on the issue of housing. Democrats have an 18-point advantage on the issue of the cost of health care.

The survey included 1,000 adults nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The economic pessimism recorded in the survey reaches levels not seen since late 2023, with a majority of the public expressing concern about both current conditions and future outlook. The increase in consumers cutting back on essential items coincides with reported increases in the Consumer Price Index for groceries and medical care between April and June 2026. Real hourly earnings for all workers declined by 1.8 percent from June 2024 to June 2026, reflecting a period of persistent inflation that may contribute to public economic pessimism.

The survey results place economic management at the center of the political landscape five months before the midterm elections. While Democrats hold an advantage on several domestic issues including health care and housing, Republicans maintain a substantial lead on immigration and border security. The dataset, published by Public Opinion Strategies, provides cross-tabulations available for academic or journalistic use.

In 2025, 38.4 percent of U.S. households had an income above $100,000, which contrasts with the 35 percent of survey respondents in that income bracket. The CDC reported that 12.2 percent of adults in the U.S. skipped medical care due to cost in 2025, which may correlate with the portion of survey respondents who reported cutting back on medical care.