As Trump Ravages Economy, US Consumer Sentiment Hits Record Low
A Democratic spokesperson said that “Americans are drowning under rising costs, flat wages, high unemployment, and historic layoffs—it’s no wonder they’re concerned about how they’re going to make ends meet.”
A man shops at a supermarket in New York City on April 10, 2026.
(Photo by Zhang Fengguo/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Jessica Corbett
Apr 24, 2026
COMMON DREAMS
As President Donald Trump continues to push his economy-wrecking agenda of tariffs, mass deportations, and military aggression, US consumer sentiment hit an all-time low on Friday, according to the University of Michigan.
The final April figure from the university’s Surveys of Consumers was 49.8—slightly higher than the preliminary 47.6 from earlier this month, and the 48 predicted by economists polled by Reuters, but still a record low, down from 53.3 in March.
“Decreases in sentiment were seen across political party, income, age, and education,” noted Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers, in a statement. “Expected business conditions declined for both short and long time horizons, nearly matching year-ago readings when the reciprocal tariff regime was implemented.”
“After the two-week ceasefire was announced and gas prices softened a touch, sentiment recovered a modest portion of its early-month losses,” she continued. “The Iran conflict appears to influence consumer views primarily through shocks to gasoline and potentially other prices. In contrast, military and diplomatic developments that do not lift supply constraints or lower energy prices are unlikely to buoy consumers.”
As Common Dreams reported earlier Friday, as the national average price for a gallon of gasoline sits at $4.059, new Reuters/Ipsos polling shows that fuel costs “are a very big concern” for 78% of Americans, and 77% blame Trump for the recent spikes.
In a social media post about the new University of Michigan record, Groundwork Collaborative highlighted another poll: A Fox News survey found that 52% of US voters questioned April 17-20 believed Democrats would do a better job on the economy than Republicans.
The Fox News poll, released Wednesday, also found that 56% of Americans think Trump’s policies are “hurting the economy,” and majorities said gas, groceries, healthcare, and housing prices are a “major problem” for their family.
Democrats didn’t waste time seizing on the new consumer sentiment finding. Kendall Witmer, rapid response director for the Democratic National Committee, declared that “Donald Trump has tanked the economy for working families.”
“Everyday Americans were already struggling to afford rent, groceries, and prescription drugs, and then Trump decided to start a reckless war with Iran and push prices even higher—and for what?” Witmer continued, taking aim at both him and Vice President JD Vance, who has played a key role in negotiations with Iran.
“Americans are drowning under rising costs, flat wages, high unemployment, and historic layoffs—it’s no wonder they’re concerned about how they’re going to make ends meet,” Witmer added, “and Trump and JD Vance can’t be bothered to make life more affordable for them.”
A Democratic spokesperson said that “Americans are drowning under rising costs, flat wages, high unemployment, and historic layoffs—it’s no wonder they’re concerned about how they’re going to make ends meet.”
A man shops at a supermarket in New York City on April 10, 2026.
(Photo by Zhang Fengguo/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Jessica Corbett
Apr 24, 2026
COMMON DREAMS
As President Donald Trump continues to push his economy-wrecking agenda of tariffs, mass deportations, and military aggression, US consumer sentiment hit an all-time low on Friday, according to the University of Michigan.
The final April figure from the university’s Surveys of Consumers was 49.8—slightly higher than the preliminary 47.6 from earlier this month, and the 48 predicted by economists polled by Reuters, but still a record low, down from 53.3 in March.
“Decreases in sentiment were seen across political party, income, age, and education,” noted Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers, in a statement. “Expected business conditions declined for both short and long time horizons, nearly matching year-ago readings when the reciprocal tariff regime was implemented.”
“After the two-week ceasefire was announced and gas prices softened a touch, sentiment recovered a modest portion of its early-month losses,” she continued. “The Iran conflict appears to influence consumer views primarily through shocks to gasoline and potentially other prices. In contrast, military and diplomatic developments that do not lift supply constraints or lower energy prices are unlikely to buoy consumers.”
As Common Dreams reported earlier Friday, as the national average price for a gallon of gasoline sits at $4.059, new Reuters/Ipsos polling shows that fuel costs “are a very big concern” for 78% of Americans, and 77% blame Trump for the recent spikes.
In a social media post about the new University of Michigan record, Groundwork Collaborative highlighted another poll: A Fox News survey found that 52% of US voters questioned April 17-20 believed Democrats would do a better job on the economy than Republicans.
The Fox News poll, released Wednesday, also found that 56% of Americans think Trump’s policies are “hurting the economy,” and majorities said gas, groceries, healthcare, and housing prices are a “major problem” for their family.
Democrats didn’t waste time seizing on the new consumer sentiment finding. Kendall Witmer, rapid response director for the Democratic National Committee, declared that “Donald Trump has tanked the economy for working families.”
“Everyday Americans were already struggling to afford rent, groceries, and prescription drugs, and then Trump decided to start a reckless war with Iran and push prices even higher—and for what?” Witmer continued, taking aim at both him and Vice President JD Vance, who has played a key role in negotiations with Iran.
“Americans are drowning under rising costs, flat wages, high unemployment, and historic layoffs—it’s no wonder they’re concerned about how they’re going to make ends meet,” Witmer added, “and Trump and JD Vance can’t be bothered to make life more affordable for them.”
Trump's economic policies have triggered unprecedented public dissatisfaction, with consumer sentiment reaching its lowest point in 74 years
Ewan Gleadow
April 24, 2026
RAW STORY
President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House, on the one-year mark into his second term in office, in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
A polling figure has shed light on just how bad President Donald Trump's economic plan for the United States is.
Trump's economic policies have triggered unprecedented public dissatisfaction, with consumer sentiment reaching its lowest point in 74 years. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 47.6 in preliminary April 2026, a 10.7 percent drop from March, marking the worst reading in the history of the Consumer Sentiment poll.
Tariffs on imported goods have driven up prices on consumer staples, including groceries, clothing and household items, with no relief in sight.
Trump's Iran war has exacerbated energy costs and disrupted global supply chains. Oil price volatility threatens to spike gas prices further, compounding household budget pressures.
The New Republic's Greg Sargent has since highlighted a brutal polling update for Trump and the economy.
"Donald Trump pays close attention to Fox News polling, so surely he’ll see the latest one from Fox, and it’s a real doozy. His numbers on the economy are indescribably awful," Sargent wrote.
"And the poll also shows that Democrats have the advantage over Republicans on the economy for the first time in many years—a real milestone.
But there was more to the Fox poll, he explained.
"It finds that Democrats are favored over Republicans on the economy for the first time since 2010," Sargent wrote. "Fifty-two percent pick Democrats and 48 percent pick Republicans. And on prices, again, it’s even worse—54 percent favor Democrats versus 46 percent who favor Republicans.
"Democrats are taking the lead or gaining the advantage on the economy now. It’s not just disapproval of Trump and people also hate Democrats. It’s voters now starting to look to Democrats as the better party on this issue."
President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House, on the one-year mark into his second term in office, in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
A polling figure has shed light on just how bad President Donald Trump's economic plan for the United States is.
Trump's economic policies have triggered unprecedented public dissatisfaction, with consumer sentiment reaching its lowest point in 74 years. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 47.6 in preliminary April 2026, a 10.7 percent drop from March, marking the worst reading in the history of the Consumer Sentiment poll.
Tariffs on imported goods have driven up prices on consumer staples, including groceries, clothing and household items, with no relief in sight.
Trump's Iran war has exacerbated energy costs and disrupted global supply chains. Oil price volatility threatens to spike gas prices further, compounding household budget pressures.
The New Republic's Greg Sargent has since highlighted a brutal polling update for Trump and the economy.
"Donald Trump pays close attention to Fox News polling, so surely he’ll see the latest one from Fox, and it’s a real doozy. His numbers on the economy are indescribably awful," Sargent wrote.
"And the poll also shows that Democrats have the advantage over Republicans on the economy for the first time in many years—a real milestone.
But there was more to the Fox poll, he explained.
"It finds that Democrats are favored over Republicans on the economy for the first time since 2010," Sargent wrote. "Fifty-two percent pick Democrats and 48 percent pick Republicans. And on prices, again, it’s even worse—54 percent favor Democrats versus 46 percent who favor Republicans.
"Democrats are taking the lead or gaining the advantage on the economy now. It’s not just disapproval of Trump and people also hate Democrats. It’s voters now starting to look to Democrats as the better party on this issue."
Strategists “in and around the White House” have grown increasingly panicked over rising energy costs and their impact on voters, Politico reported earlier this week.
Pollster reveals Trump’s shrinking coalition: He 'is unpopular almost everywhere'
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the signing ceremony for an execituve order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2026. REUTERS Evan Vucci
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the signing ceremony for an execituve order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2026. REUTERS Evan Vucci
April 24, 2026
ALTERNET
The latest polls have much to say about how Americans view President Donald Trump and his performance, with his overall approval rating cratering to a new low of just 35 percent, his approval on cost of living plummeting to net -46, and surprisingly high support for impeachment. Now according to seasoned pollster G. Elliott Morris, there’s more bad news for Trump. Not only is his coalition shrinking, but he is “unpopular almost everywhere.”
Typically, Republicans like to show geographic polling maps that display the vast majority of the U.S. in red, implying widespread support for Trump and the GOP. But as Morris notes, “few people actually live” in that red, as most of it is empty space. When you instead look at what is known as a “population cartogram,” in which each map point is scaled to the number of people who live there — in other words, you look at where voters reside rather than empty land, because land doesn’t vote — something interesting is revealed: “Trump is unpopular almost everywhere people actually live.”
In fact, “Trump is above water with only two demographic groups.” He still has relatively strong support among those who voted for him in 2024, currently holding 84 percent. But while that number may appear high, the loss of 16 percent of his previous voters represents a major shift. While he’s still at just over 50 percent with male voters over 65, that’s a sizeable drop from a year ago. At the same time, his approval is abysmal with nearly every other voting bloc, and surprisingly low with two of Trump’s previous support groups: white, non-college voters and males aged 45-64, with the former split at 50 percent and the latter down to 48 percent.
“Yikes,” writes Morris. “Even some of the groups that went strongest for Trump in 2024, like white voters without college degrees and older men, are bunched in the low-to-mid 40s. There is no group short of his own 2024 voters where Trump cracks 60 percent approval. The only way you get to a sub-40 approval rating is to lose a little bit, among every type of voter, everywhere.”
The latest polls have much to say about how Americans view President Donald Trump and his performance, with his overall approval rating cratering to a new low of just 35 percent, his approval on cost of living plummeting to net -46, and surprisingly high support for impeachment. Now according to seasoned pollster G. Elliott Morris, there’s more bad news for Trump. Not only is his coalition shrinking, but he is “unpopular almost everywhere.”
Typically, Republicans like to show geographic polling maps that display the vast majority of the U.S. in red, implying widespread support for Trump and the GOP. But as Morris notes, “few people actually live” in that red, as most of it is empty space. When you instead look at what is known as a “population cartogram,” in which each map point is scaled to the number of people who live there — in other words, you look at where voters reside rather than empty land, because land doesn’t vote — something interesting is revealed: “Trump is unpopular almost everywhere people actually live.”
In fact, “Trump is above water with only two demographic groups.” He still has relatively strong support among those who voted for him in 2024, currently holding 84 percent. But while that number may appear high, the loss of 16 percent of his previous voters represents a major shift. While he’s still at just over 50 percent with male voters over 65, that’s a sizeable drop from a year ago. At the same time, his approval is abysmal with nearly every other voting bloc, and surprisingly low with two of Trump’s previous support groups: white, non-college voters and males aged 45-64, with the former split at 50 percent and the latter down to 48 percent.
“Yikes,” writes Morris. “Even some of the groups that went strongest for Trump in 2024, like white voters without college degrees and older men, are bunched in the low-to-mid 40s. There is no group short of his own 2024 voters where Trump cracks 60 percent approval. The only way you get to a sub-40 approval rating is to lose a little bit, among every type of voter, everywhere.”
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