A growing number of Americans are feeling the financial pressure, with 67% expressing concern about how tariffs could affect their household budgets—down from 81% in June but still indicating widespread unease. Meanwhile, affordability remains a critical issue: 70% now say the cost of living in their area is either not very or not at all affordable, the highest level recorded since Marist began tracking the metric in 2011. This marks a sharp increase from 45% who felt financially outpaced just months earlier. Only 30% believe their expenses are manageable, with just 4% describing their situation as very affordable. n nFinancial setbacks are increasingly common. Over the past year, 35% of respondents reported worsening personal finances, compared to 21% who saw improvement. Looking ahead to 2026, optimism has cooled—only 33% expect better financial conditions, down from 48% in June, while 29% anticipate further decline. Nearly a quarter (24%) say their monthly expenses exceed their income, with Democrats and independents more likely than Republicans to report this imbalance. n nSavings remain a challenge. One-third of Americans are very or completely dissatisfied with their current savings, and 31% expect to save less in the coming year. Healthcare affordability also looms large: 54% are concerned their household may not afford medical services in 2026, including 65% of Democrats and 55% of independents. In contrast, only 37% of Republicans share this worry. n nPublic sentiment on the economy remains negative, with 52% believing the U.S. is currently in a recession, though this is down from 62% in 2022. President Trump’s economic approval rating stands at 36%, the lowest of his tenure, with disapproval at 57%. His overall job approval is 38%, and Republican support has dipped slightly. On party perception, 37% trust Democrats more on economic matters versus 33% for Republicans, signaling a shift from previous years. n— news from Marist Poll
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Fewer Concerned about the Impact of Tariffs on Family Finances, But… n nThere has been a decline in the proportion of Americans who say they are either very concerned or concerned about the effect of tariffs on their personal finances. However, worry still remains. 67% of Americans have some degree of concern about the impact of tariffs on their financial situation, down from 81% in June. About one in three (33%) are not very concerned or not concerned at all about tariffs. This is up from 19% previously. n nCost of Living Excessive, Say Seven in Ten n n70% of Americans say the cost of living in the area where they live is not very affordable or not affordable at all. This is the highest proportion of Americans with this view since Marist first asked this question in 2011. It also marks a significant upswing since last June in the proportion of Americans (45%) who thought they were being outpaced by the cost of living. In contrast, 30% of Americans, down from 55% previously, say their cost of living is affordable or very affordable. n nOf note, only 4% of Americans think the cost of living in their area is very affordable compared with 23% who say it is not affordable at all. n nMore Than One in Three Americans Report Personal Finances Have Deteriorated in Past Year… Lack of Optimism for 2026 Exists n nWhile a plurality of Americans (44%) say their personal financial situation has remained the same in the past 12 months, 35% report their finances have gotten worse. A little more than one in five (21%) say they have gotten better. When last reported in June, 40% of Americans thought their personal finances were status quo; 33% said they had gotten worse, and 27% thought they had improved. n nWhen thinking about their personal finances in the coming year, 39% of Americans, up from 32% in June, believe they will remain about the same. However, 33% of residents nationally think their finances will improve in 2026. That’s a marked decline since June when 48% of Americans thought their personal finances would get better in the coming year. 29%, up from 20% previously, believe their financial reality will get worse. n nClose to One in Four Americans Say Monthly Expenses Exceed Monthly Income n n24% of Americans report that their expenses on a monthly basis are more than what they earn each month. Close to half (47%) report their monthly income about matches their expenses while 29% say their income consistently exceeds their expenses. Democrats (25%) and independents (22%) are more likely than Republicans to say their expenses are more than they earn monthly. However, 18% of Republicans say the same. n nSlim Majority Express Dissatisfaction with Monthly Savings… Three in Ten Expect to Save Less Next Year n nAbout one in three Americans (33%) are very or completely dissatisfied with the amount of money they currently have saved. An additional 19% are somewhat dissatisfied. 22% are completely satisfied or very satisfied with their savings, and an additional 26% are somewhat satisfied. n n37% of Americans expect to save the same amount of money in 2026 as they have in 2025. 32% expect to save more money. 31% expect to save less. n nMajority Concerned About Being Able to Pay for Healthcare in 2026 n n54% of Americans are extremely concerned or concerned that their household will be unable to pay for healthcare services in the coming year. 46% are not very concerned or not at all concerned about that possibility. Nearly two in three Democrats (65%) and a majority of independents (55%) express some degree of concern about affording healthcare services. 37% of Republicans share that concern. n nMajority Think U.S. is in a Recession n nA majority (52%) think the United States is in a recession. This is down from 62% in September of 2022. 47% do no think the country is in a recession. This is up from 32% previously. n nTrump’s Economic Approval Rating Lowest of Either Term… Overall Approval Rating at 38% n nPresident Donald Trump’s approval rating on how he is handling the economy is at its lowest point. 36% of Americans say they approve of how President Trump is handling the economy. 57% disapprove, and 8% are unsure. This is the lowest score he has received on his handling of the economy during his current term or his prior term in office. In July, the President’s approval rating on the economy was 39%. Independents have grown sour on the President’s approach to the economy. While 24% of independents approve of how he is dealing with the economy now, 32% did so in July. n nWhen looking at President Trump’s job performance overall, 38% approve of the job he is doing, and 54% disapprove. The president’s job approval rating is little changed from November. However, there has been a slight decline in President Trump’s approval rating among Republicans (84% from 89% in November). n nBy nearly two-to-one, more Americans strongly disapprove (48%) of how President Trump is doing his job than strongly approve (25%). n nDemocrats Edge Out Republicans as the Party Perceived to Better Deal with the Economy n n37% of Americans say the Democratic Party is the party to better handle the economy. 33% believe the Republicans are better equipped to address the economic forces at play. 12% view both parties as equally capable while 17% say neither the Democrats nor the Republicans can do a good job. This is a shift from September of 2022 when the Republican Party (39%) outpaced the Democratic Party (26%) in terms of the party who could better address the economy. n nMethodology n nThis NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll national survey of 1,440 adults was conducted December 8th through December 11th, 2025, by the Marist Poll in partnership with NPR and PBS News. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for all adults (n=1,440) are statistically significant within ±3.2 percentage points. Results for registered voters (n=1,261) are statistically significant within ±3.4 percentage points. For full methodology and tables, click on the Survey Data button below.