Anonymousabout 5 hours ago
Gallup's Economic Confidence Index fell to -45 in May 2026 — matching the worst reading since October 2022 — as rising gas prices from the Iran war, persistent inflation at 3.8%, and ongoing tariff concerns erode public sentiment across partisan lines. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index dropped to 44.8, a new record low in its 74-year history, while underlying economic indicators like 4.3% unemployment and 3.6% wage growth tell a more mixed story that raises questions about whether Americans are responding to material hardship or to compounding sources of economic anxiety.