Shift in American Concerns About the Economy
CNN’s senior data reporter Harry Enten shared insights on Friday about a noticeable change in how Americans perceive economic issues. Interestingly, the percentage of people who consider the economy the nation’s primary concern has dropped from 43% in October 2024 to just 24% today. This trend indicates a significant easing in voters’ worries about inflation and high prices since President Donald Trump took office. Moreover, the current figure is below the average of 35% for midterm elections in the past.
Enten observed, “Look at this, 43 percent at this point; 43% of Americans say their biggest problem is the economy. Now, over here, the picture is quite different. Approximately 24%. That’s a notable decline—20 points or more, cutting across various political groups: Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. We can see that the percentage of people highlighting economic issues continues to fall.”
He added, “And, interestingly, the share of Americans stating that inflation is their biggest problem is also decreasing. I find this quite surprising considering all the news surrounding the economy.”
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Congressional Democrats are leveraging these economic findings to criticize President Trump, arguing that American consumers are struggling under his tariffs and that inflation has increased during his presidency.
On a more encouraging economic note, the inflation rate has recently dropped to its lowest level in four years, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hitting a year-on-year rate of 2.3% in April. While significant increases in food and energy prices have been observed, prices for gasoline and eggs have also seen notable reductions.
Enten noted that less than half of Americans, about 48%, believe that the ongoing government shutdown is impacting the economy, referencing reports from CNBC and NBC News. He said, “The harm inflicted by the shutdown is considerable. However, back in 2013, when I measured this during a shutdown, the figure was 65%. Now, it’s quite low at 48%. That’s under a majority.” He further remarked that historically, fewer Americans are now claiming the economy is the biggest problem.
He also pointed out evolving perceptions regarding the government shutdown, stating, “Fewer Americans are stating that the government shutdown is causing significant damage to the economy.”
In a political maneuver, nearly all Democrats voted in favor of a government shutdown on October 1 to challenge a continuing resolution (CR) that omitted extensions for Biden-era subsidies in the Affordable Care Act. They have since accused Republicans of undermining Americans’ healthcare, even though they previously supported similar resolutions.
During the recent 2024 election, concerns about the economy and immigration ranked as top issues, leading to Trump’s victory over former Vice President Kamala Harris. Under Biden’s administration, inflation spiked from 1.4% to a staggering 9% between January 2021 and June 2022.
