Economic Worries Persist as Approval of Trump's Handling Of The Economy Stays Below 40%, Fox News Poll Shows

A majority of Americans continue to view the U.S. economy negatively and say they are falling behind financially, even as perceptions of the country's overall direction show modest improvement, according to a new national survey released Wednesday by Fox News.

The poll found that 72% of voters rate economic conditions as only fair or poor, down slightly from last month but still higher than readings earlier this year. At the same time, 44% of respondents said they are falling behind financially, a sharp increase from June and near levels last seen during peak inflation in 2022 and 2023.

Concerns about prices remain widespread, Fox News reveals. Fully 90% of voters said they are extremely or very concerned about inflation and high prices, the highest share in more than two years. High prices topped the list of issues voters said President Donald Trump should prioritize, followed by health care and jobs.

In fact, only 39% of voters approve of Trump's handling of the economy, while 58% said he is focused on the wrong issues. His overall job approval stood at 44%, with higher marks on immigration and border security than on economic matters such as tariffs, government spending and health care.

The survey shows sharp partisan divides as nearly nine in ten Democrats and independents rated the economy negatively, compared with about half of Republicans. Women under 45, lower-income households and voters without college degrees were among the most likely to say they are losing financial ground.

Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News poll alongside Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, said voters remain unconvinced that current policies are easing price pressures. "Voters haven't gotten used to a six-dollar box of cereal, and they don't think the president's policy initiatives ... are addressing prices," Shaw said.

Other recent surveys reflect similar concerns. A Politico poll published this month found nearly half of Americans said they find groceries, utilities, health care, housing, and transportation difficult to afford, while more than a quarter — 27%— reported skipping a medical check-up due to cost in the past two years. 23% said they had skipped doses of prescribed medication.