A new Politico poll conducted by Public First in early May finds Americans remain broadly pessimistic about the economy, with a majority describing the cost of living as the worst they can remember and nearly half continuing to blame President Donald Trump for current conditions.
The Politico survey, conducted May 9–11 by the polling firm Public First, questioned 2,065 U.S. adults.
It found that 53% said the cost of living is the worst they can remember, up from 46% in a similar Politico/Public First poll conducted in mid-November.
The May poll also found that nearly half of respondents continue to hold Trump responsible for the state of the economy, little changed from the November reading. In addition, a plurality said their personal finances have worsened since Trump took office — including 18% of people who voted for him in 2024.
Other recent polling has similarly shown that economic sentiment remains weak and that the conflict with Iran has become a major public concern, particularly because of its perceived effect on prices such as gasoline.
