Most say they are worse off than 4 years ago: Gallup

As Election Day inches closer, a survey suggests many Americans believe they are worse off than they were four years ago.

The Gallup poll, released Friday, found that 52 percent of Americans said they and their family are worse off today than they were four years ago. Another 39 percent said they were better off, while 9 percent said they felt the same now as they did back then.

The responses varied based on the person’s party affiliation. About 72 percent of Democrats say they were better off in 2024 than 2020, according to the survey. The numbers were much lower for independents, 35 percent, and Republicans, 7 percent.

Gallup’s monthly Economic Confidence Index (ECI), which ranges from -100 to +100, was currently at -26, with 39 percent saying they were better off financially four years ago. For comparison, in 2020, about 55 percent said the economy was better — and the ECI was -4.

Gallup noted that former President Trump’s loss to President Biden in 2020 was a “sign that noneconomic factors were paramount to voters that year.” 

Approximately 46 percent of Americans say their current economic conditions are “poor,” some 29 percent described them as “only fair,” while 25 percent said they were “good” or “excellent.” Additionally, 62 percent said the economy is “getting worse,” a higher figure than the 32 percent who said it is “getting better,” according to the survey.

The most important problems respondents listed for the upcoming election were the economy and immigration, at 21 percent apiece. The “government” was at 17 percent, while inflation was the most important issue for 14 percent, the data shows.

About 44 percent of Americans in the survey said it is a “good time” to find a “quality” job, and 50 percent said the opposite.

With the election just 18 days away, Vice President Harris is leading Trump nationally by nearly 3 percentage points — 49.8 percent to 47.1 percent — according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s polling index. Still, the race remains tight in the battleground states, where policy issues such as the economy, immigration and abortion could play a large role in voters’ decision.

The Gallup poll was conducted Sept. 16-28 among 1,023 Americans and has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.