In Reply to: Summary of polling averages posted by mh on May 22, 2026 at 09:39:23
A long-running survey of how Americans feel about the economy sank to another all-time low — but not just because Democrats are furious at President Donald Trump and his policies.
The index of consumer sentiment dropped 4.1 points to 44.8 in May, touching the lowest level in the history of the survey going back to 1978, when it began to be published monthly.
The surge in gasoline prices tied to the Iran war and resurgent inflation are the biggest reasons so many people are unhappy.
The survey has drawn criticism for a widening partisan split that some contend exaggerates just how bad people feel about the economy.
The 92.8 reading in the consumer-confidence survey in April is also well above its all-time low of 25.3 in 2009, during the recession.