Overview
- The University of Michigan’s current-conditions index is reported at 52.3, the weakest reading since 1951 and roughly 30% lower than in January when Trump took office.
- Polling cited by CNN and CBS shows 61% say Trump’s policies worsened economic conditions and 51% say their own finances worsened, with 76%–79% of pure independents disapproving of his economic handling.
- In a Fox News interview, Trump called affordability concerns a Democratic “con job” and said polls are “fake,” asserting costs are down and gasoline will soon be $2 a gallon.
- Despite rejecting a pivot publicly, the administration has floated affordability steps including a DOJ probe of meatpackers, a possible 50‑year mortgage option under legal review, and $2,000 tariff‑dividend checks that would require congressional approval.
- Economists note CPI inflation is near 3% year over year as prices for items like meat, coffee and housing components remain elevated, tariff effects are feeding through to consumers, and a soft patch with slowing wage growth poses political risks after recent Democratic wins.