Yes
I do.
No
I don’t.
President Donald Trump says America’s economy is performing better than many voters believe — but convincing Americans who are still feeling pressure from everyday expenses could be one of his biggest challenges heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
There is evidence supporting parts of the administration’s argument.
The unemployment rate is around 4.2%, and the United States remains close to what economists generally consider full employment. Economic growth has also remained resilient, providing Trump and Republicans with positive statistics to highlight as they campaign around the country.
But economic statistics and household experiences do not always tell the same story.
Hiring has slowed, wage gains have struggled to keep pace with accumulated price increases for some households, and many Americans remain frustrated by the cost of necessities. Housing, groceries, gasoline, utilities, insurance and borrowing costs can have a much greater influence on how someone views the economy than national GDP figures or stock-market performance.
That helps explain the unusual disconnect facing the White House.
Recent reporting has described an economy showing significant strength in several major indicators while voters remain deeply dissatisfied. President Trump and his advisers have argued that Americans are underestimating the progress being made.
Public opinion, however, shows that persuading voters may be difficult.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in July found that only 24% of Americans described national economic conditions as excellent or good, while 35% called them poor. The same survey found 60% saying Trump’s economic policies had made economic conditions worse, although Republicans viewed his record considerably more positively than Democrats did.
That creates two very different ways of judging the economy.
Trump supporters can point to unemployment, economic growth, investment and other broad economic measures as evidence that the country is performing better than gloomy headlines suggest.
Skeptical voters can point to what they actually pay each month.
For a family dealing with a higher grocery bill, expensive electricity, increased housing costs or gasoline prices, being told that economic statistics are strong may provide little comfort. For someone with a secure job, rising investments or a growing business, the same economy may look considerably healthier.
Both realities can exist at the same time.
And politically, the question may not be whether economists consider the economy strong. What matters in November could be whether ordinary voters personally feel that conditions are getting better.