Share

Trump increasingly blamed by voters for declining economy

For the first time since United States President Donald Trump was elected, more Americans say the economy is getting worse than getting better.

A new Quinnipiac Poll shows 37% saying the economy is declining, compared with 31% who continue to see improvement. Only 30% say the economy is staying about the same, the lowest number on record.

Polls have consistently shown the economy to be Trump’s strongest suit, but the Quinnipiac poll could be a turning point. Not only are people less optimistic, but they’re blaming Trump: For the first time, more Americans say his policies are doing more harm than good, 41% to 37%.

"As trade tensions with China dominate the headlines, confidence in the economy is slipping," said Quinnipiac pollster Mary Snow.

"And roughly four in 10 voters blame the president’s policies, saying they are hurting the economy, the highest level since Trump took office".

The decline in economic expectations may also be a function of just how high-flying the perception of the economy still is: 61% say the economy is excellent or good, down from a high-water mark of 71% in May; 37% say it’s poor or not so good.

Still, the poll confirms other data points, like declining consumer confidence among Republicans and independents, suggesting that Trump's fate may be tied to the economic outlook in 2020. 

Quinnipiac University surveyed 1422 registered voters nationwide from 21 to 26 August, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.88
+0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.85
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.39
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.32
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders