American Economic Confidence Hits Four-Year Low, Poll Finds

A new poll has found that Americans’ confidence in the economy is now at a four-year low.

Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index fell to -45, the lowest reading for the index since October 2022. The index remains above the lowest point of the Biden presidency, -58, which was reached in June 2022 as the economy was still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The index has been trending downward since the start of the Iran war at the end of February, when the index was at -20. The number fell to -27 in March and -35 in April.

The index’s theoretical top rating is +100 and its worst is -100. Gallup has used the index since 1992. Its highest point ever was in January 2000 at +56, while the lowest point ever reached was during the start of the Great Recession in October 2008: -72.

The polling service found that only 16 percent of the country rate economic conditions as excellent or good. A significant majority, 76 percent, are pessimistic and believe the economy is going to get worse.

The negative view of the economic outlook coincides with rising inflation. The annual inflation rate in the U.S. rose to 3.8 percent in April 2026, the highest it has been since May 2023. The April rate increased from 3.3 percent in March, according to Trading Economics.

Also, gas prices continue to be elevated, driven by the Iran war. The average gas price in the U.S. is about $4.55, according to AAA. By comparison, last year at the same time a gallon of gas cost $3.19 a gallon.

According to Gallup, economic confidence among Republicans remained in positive territory at +22, but the pollster noted that it was the lowest number yet recorded for Republicans in Trump’s second term. In the last four months, the number for Republicans had dropped 33 points.

Independents were at -58, and Democrats were at -80. Both of those scores were the lowest they have been since Trump began his second term.

Another recent poll showed that more than three-quarters of Americans say their income is not keeping up with inflation.

The CBS News survey found that Americans are stressed about high gas prices and a feeling of uncertainty regarding the war with Iran. The war, launched in February by the U.S. and Israel, has dragged on for months and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which about a fifth of all global energy passes, leading to soaring prices.

One of the drivers of the economic anxiety to related to the fact that most Americans do not believe their income levels are keeping pace with rising costs. The poll found that only 23 percent said they were keeping up with inflation, with 77 percent saying they were not. Additionally, only 29 percent said the economy was in a good place.