New YouGov polling finds that Americans are more likely now than they were in March 2025 to describe the global economy as poor. People are also more likely now than they were in March to say their household expenses are outpacing their income, and most say they’re being personally affected by inflation.
In March, 16% of Americans said the global economy was in a poor state; 25% say this now. Among Democrats, 11% said the global economy was doing poorly in March and 28% say this now.
Many Americans are feeling the impacts of economic changes. 44% say housing costs such as rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, or home maintenance are among the two types of expenses — from a list of seven — that worry them the most regarding their finances. 35% name basic necessities such as food or clothing as a top-two expense concern, and 22% name saving enough for retirement. Smaller shares name credit card debts (17%) or transportation costs such as car loans, car maintenance, gas, or public transit fares (10%).
Among Americans with annual family incomes under $50,000, 50% say housing costs are one of their top worries and 47% say so about basic necessities. Among Americans with annual family incomes between $50,000 and $100,000, 40% say housing costs are a top worry and 33% say so about health care or other medical expenses. Among Americans with annual family incomes of $100,000 or more, 38% say health care is a top worry and 36% say so about housing costs.
Adults under 30 are more likely than older Americans to name education costs such as tuition or student loan debt as one of their top worries (20% vs. 4%). Americans 65 and older are much more likely than younger adults to name health care or other medical expenses as one of their top financial worries (42% vs. 29%).
Americans who rent their home are more likely than homeowners to say housing costs are one of their top worries (55% vs. 34%).
71% of Americans say they are feeling the effects of inflation somewhat (38%) or a great deal (33%). Americans with an annual family income under $50,000 are more likely than those with higher family incomes to say inflation is affecting them a great deal (43% vs. 27%).
One-third (32%) of Americans say their household’s income is falling behind their expenses. About half (53%) say their household’s income is just keeping up with their expenses, and only 8% say their income is growing faster than their expenses.
Americans with an annual family income under $50,000 are more likely than people with a higher family income to say their household income is falling behind their expenses (40% vs. 28%).
The share of Americans who say their household income is falling behind their expenses has increased since March, to 32% from 24%. The increase has been similar among all major groups of Americans by annual family income: Under $50,000 (to 40% from 33%), between $50,000 and $100,000 (to 32% from 21%) and over $100,000 (to 22% from 12%).
Who or what do Americans blame the most for inflation? Majorities say a lot of the blame should go to spending by the federal government (59%), large corporations seeking maximum profits (57%), and tariffs (54%). 52% blame Donald Trump a lot and 46% blame Republicans a lot.
Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to say they place a lot of blame on Trump (91% vs. 11%), Republicans (84% vs. 11%), and tariffs (83% vs. 25%).
Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to place a lot of blame for inflation on Democrats (77% vs. 5%) and Joe Biden (75% vs. 4%).
About twice as many Americans think that an effective president would be able to control inflation than say that this is something beyond any president’s control (55% vs. 25%). Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say an effective president would be able to control inflation (67% vs. 49%).
Since March, the share of Americans who think inflation is beyond any president’s control has risen, to 25% from 18%.
Americans are divided about which party has a more effective plan to reduce inflation. 31% think the Republican Party has a more effective plan, 28% think the DemocraticParty does, and 28% say neither party does.
42% of Americans with an annual family income between $50,000 and $100,000 think the Republican Party has a more effective plan to reduce inflation. Smaller shares agree among Americans with higher (31%) and lower (24%) family incomes.
53% of Americans say Trump is more responsible than Biden for the current state of the U.S. economy; 28% say Biden is more responsible. Only 8% say neither one is responsible.
Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say Trump is more responsible for the current state of the U.S. economy (88% vs. 25%).
Related:
- Few Americans like the economy, and that hasn't been changing
- Republicans are much less likely to see inflation and election fraud as very serious problems than they were a year ago
- Majorities of Democrats and Republicans agree that the middle class pays too much in taxes
See the results for this YouGov survey
— Carl Bialik and Taylor Orth contributed to this article
Methodology: This article includes results from an online survey conducted on November 3 - 5, 2025 among 1,114 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 presidential vote, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. 2024 presidential vote, at time of weighting, was estimated to be 48% Harris and 50% Trump. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given around November 8, 2024, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4 percentage points.
Image: Getty
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