US Economic Confidence Hits Nearly Four-Year Low

(MENAFN) American confidence in the economy has cratered to its bleakest point in nearly four years, tumbling to levels not seen since 2022, according to a newly released Gallup poll published Friday.

Just 16% of U.S. adults described current economic conditions as "excellent" or "good," the survey found. A further 34% characterized the economy as "only fair," while a near-majority — 49% — assessed it as "poor."

The pessimism extended beyond present conditions: 76% of U.S. adults reported that economic conditions are "getting worse," with only 20% expressing the belief that they are "getting better."

Confidence has eroded consistently across recent months and spans the political divide, as the war in Iran continues to fuel a sharp uptick in both inflation and gasoline prices.

While Republican respondents maintained a net positive economic outlook, their confidence registered its lowest point since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in late January 2025 — though it remained considerably stronger than levels recorded just before he departed office following his first term in January 2021, during the height of the global COVID pandemic.

The Gallup economic confidence index — a composite measure of Americans' overall economic assessment — also deteriorated sharply, sinking to -45 points, its weakest reading since 2022 when inflation peaked at 9%. The index's maximum possible score stands at +100 points.

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