A new poll finds that 53% of registered voters say their finances have gotten worse since President Trump returned to the White House. The Focaldata survey, taken August 7-10, also shows 66% of voters believe the economy is heading in the wrong direction, with only 25% saying it's on the right track.
The toll on household budgets
The poll surveyed 1,913 registered voters and carries a margin of error of ±2.9 percentage points. It paints a grim picture: consumer sentiment is near a record low, and real wages declined last month. Inflation stood at 3.4% in July, higher than when Joe Biden left office. Voters consistently rank inflation and the cost of living as the country's most important issues.
Unease inside the GOP
The sour mood isn't limited to Democrats. Among independents, 57% say they're worse off under the current president. Nearly a quarter of Republicans say the same. Trump's overall disapproval rating reached 55% among registered voters, including nearly 20% of Republicans. His net approval within his own party fell 8 points from the previous month.
Inflation and the cost of living
On inflation specifically, 64% of registered voters disapprove of Trump's handling of it, including almost 70% of independents. Democrats hold a 44% to 39% lead over Republicans among registered voters, with an edge on inflation and jobs. That's a key advantage with midterms less than three months away.
The White House pushes back
Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, pushed back on the poll's findings. He cited the administration's affordability agenda, lower drug prices, reshoring jobs, tax cuts, a historic drop in violent crime, and the most secure border in history. The administration has argued that its policies will eventually ease the cost-of-living crunch.
A test before November
The midterm elections are less than three months away, and Trump is not on the ballot. Fresh inflation data arrives before November, which will test whether affordability improves in time to shift voter judgment. The poll suggests voters are not yet convinced.
