A national survey published this Sunday by the Financial Times reveals that more than 53% of registered voters in the United States believe their financial situation has worsened since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, with dissatisfaction extending even within Republican ranks.
The survey, conducted by the nonpartisan firm Focaldata between August 7 and 10 with a sample of 1,913 registered voters and a margin of error of ±2.9 percentage points, shows that nearly 57% of independents and about a quarter of Republicans themselves also feel worse under the current administration.
Economic data supports that perception. The year-on-year inflation in July 2026 stood at 3.4%, above the level that Trump inherited from the Biden administration, largely driven by the U.S. war with Iran, which drove up gasoline prices from approximately $2.98 to more than $4.17 per gallon in just a few weeks, peaking at $4.52 in May.
According to official data, real wages fell by 0.1% from June to July and by 0.2% compared to the same month last year, meaning that workers' earnings are not keeping up with rising prices.
Consumer sentiment plummeted to a near-historic low, according to figures released on Saturday, with high prices forcing many Americans to cut back on their spending.
Regarding presidential approval, 55% of registered voters disapprove of Trump's administration, a figure that rises to 64% when specifically considering his handling of inflation and the cost of living, including nearly seven out of ten independents and about one-third of Republicans.
The net approval rating of Trump among his own Republican voters dropped by 8 percentage points compared to the previous month, a warning sign for the White House with less than three months until the midterm elections in November.
Nearly two-thirds of registered voters believe that the economy is headed in the wrong direction, and only one in four thinks it is progressing correctly.
The survey also found that voters have more trust in Democrats than in Republicans to manage inflation, the cost of living, employment, and the economy in general, issues that have historically been strong points for the Republican Party.
In the voting intention for the legislative elections in November, the Democrats have a five-point lead over the Republicans: 44% compared to 39%.
The White House rejected the survey's conclusions. The spokesperson Kush Desai stated that "the Trump administration continues to fulfill the president's affordability agenda by lowering drug prices, bringing back American jobs, and cutting taxes, while highlighting a historic drop in violent crime and the safest border in history."
The mortgage rates also surged to 6.58% in July, adding additional pressure on the finances of American households at a time when electoral models place Democrats as slight favorites to regain the House of Representatives with a projected gain of 11 seats.
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