A majority of U.S. adults continue to view the national economy unfavorably, with 74% describing conditions as only fair or poor, while 26% rate them as excellent or good, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in September 2025 among 3,445 adults. These overall assessments have remained largely stable over the past three years, but partisan perspectives have diverged significantly. Republican and Republican-leaning respondents are more optimistic, with 44% rating the economy positively—an 8-point increase since April and the highest approval since Donald Trump’s first term. In contrast, only 10% of Democrats and Democratic leaners consider economic conditions strong, unchanged from April but markedly lower than earlier in Joe Biden’s presidency. Economic dissatisfaction is widespread, with 56% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats viewing the economy negatively. Key factors driving negative perceptions include rising prices and personal expenses, cited by 42% of respondents, with specific concerns about inflation (17%), cost of living (9%), and grocery prices (6%). Partisan attributions have intensified: 16% blame Trump or the GOP for poor economic conditions, up from 6% who previously cited Biden or Democrats. Additionally, 12% point to the adverse effects of tariffs as a reason for their pessimistic outlook. Among those with favorable views, 22% credit general economic growth, while references to low unemployment have sharply declined—from 43% in 2024 to just 5% in the current survey. Looking ahead, only 29% expect better economic conditions in a year, down from 36% in April, while 46% anticipate deterioration—a figure unchanged from April but up from 37% in February. This shift reflects declining optimism among Republicans, despite their more positive current assessments. Among Republicans, 55% expect improvement in the next year, down from 65% in April, while 19% foresee worsening conditions. Among Democrats, only 6% expect improvement and 73% anticipate a decline. Major economic concerns include food and consumer prices (65% very concerned) and housing costs (61%). Energy and gasoline prices concern 45%, and 42% are highly worried about job availability. Stock market performance is a lesser concern, with only 19% expressing high worry—down from earlier in the year, when market volatility followed tariff announcements. Notably, Democrats consistently express greater concern than Republicans on all economic issues, reversing earlier patterns during the Biden administration when Republicans were more anxious about inflation and market fluctuations.