President Trump's overall approval rating has declined to the lowest level of his second term, and his approval for handling the economy and inflation has also fallen, according to a CBS News/YouGov survey conducted May 13–15, 2026. Americans' ratings of the U.S. economy have declined to levels not seen since 2023.

Two-thirds of Americans said the president's policies are making the economy worse in the short term, while more Americans expressed optimism than pessimism that those policies will improve the economy in the long run. Some administration officials have urged patience regarding the economy.

Seventy-five percent of Americans said their incomes are not keeping up with inflation, and most said rising gas prices are increasingly affecting them. A majority described the economy as "uncertain," reflecting concerns about both short-term and long-term conditions, and more selected the word "unfair" than "fair" when describing it, the survey found.

Many Americans reported feeling concerned and stressed about their finances, with feelings of financial security and contentment lower than at the same point a year earlier, according to the survey. Most described their feelings about the administration's economic approach as either "frustrated" or "angry." A majority also said they expect the U.S. economy to experience a recession or slowdown, and a majority said that finding a job they want would be difficult, the survey found.

Among Republicans, ratings for the president's handling of inflation have declined, particularly since the onset of the Iran conflict and rising oil prices. Among the one-third of Republicans who give the president negative marks on inflation, most described their feelings as "frustrated" rather than "angry" about the administration's economic approach. Republicans' approval ratings for the president stand at 89% on immigration, 85% overall, and 63% on inflation.

Neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party is viewed by a majority of Americans as helping with the cost of living, though more Americans view Democrats as doing a better job on the issue than Republicans. About one-third of Americans think neither party has the better economic policy or are unsure.

An increasing proportion of Americans, especially those under 50, feel that economic opportunities are worse for their generation than for their parents' generation. Many also said they worry that artificial intelligence will take jobs.

The CBS News/YouGov survey interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2,064 U.S. adults between May 13 and May 15, 2026, with a margin of error of ±2.7 percentage points.