The following is from Gallup News.
Americans’ already negative assessments of the U.S. economy have become slightly worse in September, both in their perception of current economic conditions and their outlook for the economy’s direction.
In this month’s update, 20% of U.S. adults say economic conditions are “excellent” or “good,” while 32% call them “only fair” and 48% “poor.”
The overall positive rating is down slightly from 23% in August, while the poor rating is up from 42% and is the highest Gallup has seen in a year.
Asked about the economy’s direction, nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) say conditions are getting worse, while 24% say they’re improving.
Current pessimism about the economy outpaces the 66% to 67% saying the economy was getting worse over the summer months, while it’s on par with the readings last spring.
The latest results are from a Sept. 1-23 Gallup poll, conducted as the risk of a U.S. government shutdown was intensifying with the approach of the Sept. 30 deadline to pass bills to fund federal agency programs for the new fiscal year.
The Economic Confidence Index currently stands at -39, nine points below its August reading.
The index has been negative every month since the start of the pandemic in 2020, except for two readings in early 2021. It was substantially more negative in mid-2022 when high inflation, including record-high gas prices, distressed consumers.
Although much reduced today, ongoing inflation has likely contributed to the continuation of negative ECI scores for what is now the 26th straight month.
The only other period of such sustained negativity about the economy since Gallup began measuring this index monthly in 2000 was recorded in the years during and in the few years after the 2007-2009 recession.
Link here to read full polling results.
The Lemonade Mermaid Store
Unique gifts for Land or Sea Mermaids, Mer-pets and Little Mermaids!
Left: Pastel Beach Necklace $16
