4 in 10 say US in recession: Survey

Four in 10 Americans said the U.S. is in a recession, while another third of respondents argued it is not, according to a survey published Tuesday. 

The latest The Economist/YouGov poll found that 40 percent of U.S. adults said the country is in a recession, while 35 percent disagreed. A quarter of respondents were not sure when asked about the topic. 

The 40 percent who stated the nation is in recession marks an uptick from the 30 percent who said so in early February, the pollster noted. But the figure is still lower than the 50 percent who had the same view in late 2022 and the early days of 2023. 

More than half of Democrats surveyed, 56 percent, agreed that the country is in a recession, while about a quarter of Republicans, 26 percent, agreed, the survey found. Prior to President Trump’s swearing-in in January, 51 percent of GOP voters and 27 percent of Democratic Party backers argued the U.S. is in a recession. 

Inflation is still the most important issue to Americans, the poll found. A large majority, 81 percent, said it is very important and 47 percent expected that its rate will be higher in six months. Some 22 percent argued it will be lower half a year from now. 

About 44 percent of U.S. respondents said they think gas prices will increase in six months. On the flip side, 23 percent expected the prices of gas to drop in half a year. Nearly all respondents, 96 percent, said they have felt the impact of inflation in their own life. 

A Gallup poll from last week found that 46 percent of adults said Trump is responsible for the current state of the U.S. economy, while 27 percent of respondents pinned the blame on his predecessor, former President Biden. 

The Economist/YouGov poll found that Trump’s approval rating is at 42 percent, while 52 percent disapprove of his work as commander in chief. 

The survey was conducted May 2-5 among 1,850 U.S. adults. The margin of error was about 3.5 percentage points.