US voter poll finds 44% report worse finances than two years ago

Expressing Trump support was one reason for 16% of respondents

The 2026 Voter Poll found that 44% of respondents were in a worse financial situation than two years ago, while 38% said their situation was about the same and 18% said it was better. The poll also found that 43% of respondents said expressing opposition to President Donald Trump was a reason for their midterm vote, 41% said he was not a factor and 16% said expressing support was one reason.

Poll included early and on-the-day voters

The Voter Poll asked tens of thousands of the American electorate about their opinions and motivations, with breakdowns by age, gender, education and other demographics. SSRS collected data on behalf of a consortium of news companies. The survey used a representative sample of American voters in the run-up to the election and included exit polling of both early and on-the-day voters. More than 79,000 people took part.

BBC noted, “Like all surveys they are estimates; the numbers are also likely to be updated as more data arrives.”

Economic assessments and policy attribution

In the poll’s issue ranking, 39% of respondents named the economy as their most important issue and 32% named the state of democracy. Immigration followed at 14%, while healthcare, foreign policy and crime each drew a smaller share.

Seventy-five percent of respondents described the national economy as “not so good or poor,” while 25% described it as “excellent or good.”

Measured labor-market data offer a separate point of reference for those assessments. In FRED data, the broader U-6 underemployment rate — a measure that counts discouraged workers and involuntary part-time workers alongside unemployed people — stood at 7.6% as of November 3, 2026 (U6RATE). The U-6 series tracks labor-market conditions; the poll records how respondents described the economy.

Asked about the effect of President Donald Trump’s policies, 65% of respondents said the policies had worsened economic conditions in the United States, 28% said they had improved conditions and 8% said the president had had no impact.

National mood breakdown

Thirty-eight percent of respondents said they were angry at the way things were going in the United States at the moment, with a further 37% saying they were dissatisfied. Only 18% said they were satisfied, and 7% of respondents felt enthusiastic.

Inflation and household costs

Almost eight in 10 voters, 79%, said inflation had caused them and their family a severe or moderate hardship in the past year, while 21% said it had caused them no hardship at all.

A majority of voters, 59%, said they were “very concerned” about the cost of petrol and diesel, and 58% gave the same answer about the cost of food and groceries.

Responsibility for higher prices

Respondents divided over the source of higher prices. More than six in 10, 62%, said higher-than-usual prices were more because of Trump’s policies, while 38% said the increases were more due to factors beyond his control.