Americans are growing more pessimistic about the economy as President Trump’s numbers weaken on the issue, a new -NORC poll found. The survey, conducted April 16-20, 2026, shows just 30% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, down from 38% in March. About 7 in 10 Americans now describe the national economy as poor and say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Public frustration deepens as prices stay high
The poll points to a broad slide in confidence, with 73% now describing the economy as poor, up from 66% in February. At the same time, 72% say the country is heading in the wrong direction, a figure that is about the same as in February. The findings suggest a public mood that has become more skeptical even as the political environment around the White House remains unsettled.
Views of the cost of living are even more severe. Just 23% approve of how Trump is handling the cost of living, while 76% disapprove. That gap underscores how inflation-linked pressures remain central to the public’s judgment of the economy, especially as gas prices have risen amid the ongoing war in Iran.
Trump’s numbers fall, but some views hold steady
Trump’s overall approval rating has also slipped since March, falling to 33% from 38%. His favorability, however, has remained about the same, with 33% holding a favorable opinion, compared with 34% in February. Views of Vice President JD Vance and of the Republican and Democratic parties have also remained consistent, suggesting that the sharpest movement in this poll is centered on the economy and day-to-day costs rather than on every political figure.
The nationwide poll was conducted April 16-20, 2026, using the AmeriSpeak Panel, a probability-based panel of NORC at the University of Chicago. Online and telephone interviews using landlines and cell phones were conducted with 2, 596 adults, and the overall margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3. 4 percentage points.
What the poll shows right now
For now, the message from the survey is blunt: more Americans think the economy is weak, and fewer approve of Trump’s handling of it. The combination of rising gas prices, stubborn cost-of-living concerns, and a widespread sense that the country is moving in the wrong direction leaves little room for a quick political rebound.
The next major question is whether these views harden further if prices stay elevated and the public sees no clear improvement. For Trump, the latest -NORC poll suggests the economy remains one of the clearest pressure points as his second-term numbers continue to soften.
