I can’t afford this Trump economy

9 In 10 Americans Believe U.S. In Full-Blown 'Cost-Of-Living Crisis'

Cost of living keeps going up. For half of Americans, keeping up with basic monthly bills has become nearly impossible.

studyfinds.org

In A Nutshell​

• Half of Americans are struggling to pay monthly bills on time, with an equal number finding it difficult to afford basic necessities like groceries
• Tax refunds have become survival money rather than bonus money, with 73% saying they need their refund more than ever and only 14% planning to spend it on anything fun
• 38% of Americans have been forced to move due to costs, with younger generations hit hardest; half of Gen Z relocated because they couldn’t afford where they lived
• Most Americans have given up on their ideal location, with 64% of Gen Z believing they’ll never be able to afford living where they want to live

Red said:

9 In 10 Americans Believe U.S. In Full-Blown 'Cost-Of-Living Crisis'

Cost of living keeps going up. For half of Americans, keeping up with basic monthly bills has become nearly impossible.

studyfinds.org

In A Nutshell​

• Half of Americans are struggling to pay monthly bills on time, with an equal number finding it difficult to afford basic necessities like groceries
• Tax refunds have become survival money rather than bonus money, with 73% saying they need their refund more than ever and only 14% planning to spend it on anything fun
• 38% of Americans have been forced to move due to costs, with younger generations hit hardest; half of Gen Z relocated because they couldn’t afford where they lived
• Most Americans have given up on their ideal location, with 64% of Gen Z believing they’ll never be able to afford living where they want to live

Rent is due. The electric bill sits on the counter. The grocery receipt from last week still stings. For half of Americans, keeping up with basic monthly bills has become nearly impossible.

A nationwide survey of 5,000 Americans from Talker Research reports 52% now struggle to pay bills like rent on time each month, while an equal number are struggling to afford necessities like groceries. Nine in 10 people believe the U.S. is experiencing a full-blown cost-of-living crisis, and nearly eight in 10 said everything became more expensive in 2025.

The question isn’t whether Americans are struggling. It’s what they’re doing about it.

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Red said:

9 In 10 Americans Believe U.S. In Full-Blown 'Cost-Of-Living Crisis'

Cost of living keeps going up. For half of Americans, keeping up with basic monthly bills has become nearly impossible.

studyfinds.org

In A Nutshell​

• Half of Americans are struggling to pay monthly bills on time, with an equal number finding it difficult to afford basic necessities like groceries
• Tax refunds have become survival money rather than bonus money, with 73% saying they need their refund more than ever and only 14% planning to spend it on anything fun
• 38% of Americans have been forced to move due to costs, with younger generations hit hardest; half of Gen Z relocated because they couldn’t afford where they lived
• Most Americans have given up on their ideal location, with 64% of Gen Z believing they’ll never be able to afford living where they want to live

Rent is due. The electric bill sits on the counter. The grocery receipt from last week still stings. For half of Americans, keeping up with basic monthly bills has become nearly impossible.

A nationwide survey of 5,000 Americans from Talker Research reports 52% now struggle to pay bills like rent on time each month, while an equal number are struggling to afford necessities like groceries. Nine in 10 people believe the U.S. is experiencing a full-blown cost-of-living crisis, and nearly eight in 10 said everything became more expensive in 2025.

The question isn’t whether Americans are struggling. It’s what they’re doing about it.

Click to expand...

AK47 said:

View: https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2020157267425861906?s=20

Click to expand...

• Financial Discontent (2026 Data): A January 2026 poll found that 54% of Americans feel they are worse off financially than they were a year ago, with only a quarter saying they are better off. Another January 2026 survey found that 49% of respondents believe their financial situation is worse now than four years ago, with only 22% feeling better off.
• Declining Economic Sentiment: Contrary to a "surge" in optimism, early 2026 polls showed a majority of Americans felt the country was on the "wrong track" and held negative views on the economy, often blaming inflation and tariffs.
• Low Approval Ratings: By February 2026, President Trump’s approval rating on the economy had dropped to 39%, with 56% disapproving.
• Comparison to Past Elections: While some isolated, likely incorrect or historical social media posts might claim a surge (referencing 2020 data), active 2026 polling indicates that fewer than one in five say policies made them financially better in 2025, and a majority are pessimistic about the year ahead.

• • 2026 Update: As of January 2026, 49% of voters feel the country is worse off than a year prior, while only 32% say it is better, according to a The New York Times and Siena University poll.

• Low "Better Off" Ratings: A January 2026 New York Times/Siena poll found that less than a third of voters (32%) felt the country was better off after the first year of the second term, while 49% said it was worse off.
• Economic Disapproval: A Feb. 2026 Pew Research Center poll found that 52% of Americans say Trump's policies have made economic conditions in the country worse.
• Declining Sentiment: A January 2026 Yahoo News/YouGov poll showed that the number of Americans saying Trump is "changing America for the worse" has risen, while ratings for "better" have fallen.
• Comparison to 2020: In late 2024 (before the election), a Gallup poll showed that only 39% of Americans felt better off than four years prior, which was lower than levels in most previous incumbent election years.

Red said:

Based on polling data from early 2026, the claim that a majority of Americans feel "better off" than four years prior, or that such a belief has surged, is
not supported by the general consensus of public opinion research.
Instead, polling indicates significant, lingering dissatisfaction with economic conditions and personal finances following the start of President Trump's second term in 2025.
Here are the findings from early 2026:

• Financial Discontent (2026 Data): A January 2026 poll found that 54% of Americans feel they are worse off financially than they were a year ago, with only a quarter saying they are better off. Another January 2026 survey found that 49% of respondents believe their financial situation is worse now than four years ago, with only 22% feeling better off.
• Declining Economic Sentiment: Contrary to a "surge" in optimism, early 2026 polls showed a majority of Americans felt the country was on the "wrong track" and held negative views on the economy, often blaming inflation and tariffs.
• Low Approval Ratings: By February 2026, President Trump’s approval rating on the economy had dropped to 39%, with 56% disapproving.
• Comparison to Past Elections: While some isolated, likely incorrect or historical social media posts might claim a surge (referencing 2020 data), active 2026 polling indicates that fewer than one in five say policies made them financially better in 2025, and a majority are pessimistic about the year ahead.

Summary: Data from January and February 2026 suggests the opposite of a surge in optimism, with voters largely reporting that they feel squeezed by high prices rather than feeling better off.

• • 2026 Update: As of January 2026, 49% of voters feel the country is worse off than a year prior, while only 32% say it is better, according to a The New York Times and Siena University poll.

lol. What poll?

Based on search results from early 2026 regarding the first year of Donald Trump's second term, there is
no credible, major polling data indicating a 25% surge in Americans feeling better off than four years ago.
In fact, polls from late 2025 and early 2026 suggest the opposite trend, with many Americans feeling worse off or expressing dissatisfaction with the economic direction under the second administration.
Key Findings from 2025-2026 Polls:

• Low "Better Off" Ratings: A January 2026 New York Times/Siena poll found that less than a third of voters (32%) felt the country was better off after the first year of the second term, while 49% said it was worse off.
• Economic Disapproval: A Feb. 2026 Pew Research Center poll found that 52% of Americans say Trump's policies have made economic conditions in the country worse.
• Declining Sentiment: A January 2026 Yahoo News/YouGov poll showed that the number of Americans saying Trump is "changing America for the worse" has risen, while ratings for "better" have fallen.
• Comparison to 2020: In late 2024 (before the election), a Gallup poll showed that only 39% of Americans felt better off than four years prior, which was lower than levels in most previous incumbent election years.

The claim of a 25% surge in positive sentiment does not align with major polling, which indicates that "better off" sentiment has remained low or declined rather than increased.

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• Partisan Divide: Current polling shows a record gap in sentiment, with approximately 93% approval among Republicans compared to roughly 1% among Democrats.