If you’ve sensed that people are a little tense lately in the U.S., you are probably right.
Results of a recent Gallup survey released this week found that just 18% of participants were satisfied with the way things are going in the country – around half of the historical average from 1979 to today. Since March, the percentage of satisfied Americans hasn’t exceeded 20%.
Gallup conducted the survey from May 1 to May 24, before the most recent jobs report and before President Joe Biden signed legislation to increase the debt ceiling and avoid default. Approval of Biden and Congress were at low levels last month.
Republicans were the most dissatisfied with the state of the country at 4% satisfaction. Independents tracked with overall figures at 18% and Democrats were the happiest at 33% satisfaction.
Part of the reason why Americans might be so glum is the economy, which has been impacted by inflation and interest rate hikes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the national emergency declaration for the pandemic is over, associated economic relief programs have also dried up for the most part.
Per the Gallup poll, “Americans’ confidence in the U.S. economy also remains depressed,” but not as low as it was last summer. Just 17% of Americans believe that economic conditions in the country are “excellent” or “good,” compared to 36% who said they are “only fair” and 47% who said they are “poor.”
A vast majority (76%) believe the economy is getting worse and only 20% think it is getting better.
Economic concerns and immigration concerns were some of the top concerns for Americans at 13% each, but government was the top problem facing the country according to 19% of those polled. Other “top problems” included inflation (10%) crime and violence (6%), guns (5%), and the federal budget deficit (5%).
Americans are slightly more satisfied than they were last summer. Gallup identified soaring gas prices in 2022 as a particular source of irritation. According to AAA, average gas prices this time last year were close to $5, compared to the current average of around $3.60. While the 18% satisfaction rate is low, it isn’t as low as the 7% rate Gallup reported during the Great Recession in 2008.
“The high point was 71% in February 1999 during the dot-com boom and after the Senate acquitted President Bill Clinton in his impeachment trial,” said Gallup.
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