Americans’ confidence in the economy fell to a six-month low in May, largely dragged down by Democrats’ worsening economic attitudes.
While Americans’ confidence in the economy remains stronger than it was before the 2016 presidential election, it is not as strong as it was earlier this year.
Gallup said its U.S. Economic Confidence Index averaged a score of plus-3 in May, down slightly from April (plus-5) but eight points below January’s record monthly high (plus-11).
Republicans’ confidence rose more sharply than Democrats’ fell in the weeks after Trump’s election. “However, polarization being as it is, it seemed likely that Democrats would become increasingly pessimistic about the economy as the Obama administration (and its influence on the economy) fell farther in the rearview mirror,” Gallup explained.
Meanwhile, economic confidence among Democrats plunged to its lowest level since November 2011, when confidence was recovering from the tumble it took during the standoff