A majority of Americans view the state of the economy as “strong” for the first time in nearly four years, according to a new Harvard University/HarrisX poll.
Why It Matters
The poll marks the first time in years that optimism has outpaced pessimism on the economy in one of the pollster’s surveys, representing a significant reversal in public sentiment during a period of inflation, interest rate hikes and pandemic aftershocks. A stronger view on the economy could reshape consumer spending and investment confidence after years of turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A return to net-positive views of the U.S. economy could have political implications for President Donald Trump, whose administration has faced criticism over some of his economic policies such as tariffs.
What to Know
The poll, conducted by the Harvard University Center for American Political Studies and HarrisX, found that a slim majority of Americans now view the economy as strong.
Fifty-one percent of respondents said they view the economy as strong, while 49 percent view it as weak. While this represents a small majority, it is the first time more Americans than not view the economy a strong since July 2021, according to the pollster.
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a global economic slowdown due to lockdowns aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly virus, and the years that followed have seen high rates of inflation both in the U.S. and abroad as leaders tried to set an economic recovery.
In the U.S., inflation peaked in June 2022 and has steadily fallen since, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But prices have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Other metrics like housing prices remain high. The average price of a house in the first quarter of 2025 was $503,800; this compares to $383,000 in the first quarter of 2020, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The new poll also asked respondents about their views on Trump’s economic policies. It found that Americans were split on whether his policies are making the economy stronger or weaker, with 50 percent of respondents giving each answer.
With regards to tariffs, 57 percent of respondents said tariffs are harming the economy, while 43 percent said they are boosting the economy.
The poll surveyed 1,903 registered voters from May 14 to May 15, 2025 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.
The Dow Jones industrial Average, a key stock market metric, was up just under one percent compared to the start of the year on Monday. It has continued to rise in recent weeks after Trump delayed many of his tariffs amid market backlash. Last week, however, Moody’s Ratings downgraded the U.S. government’s credit rating for the first time in more than a century.
What People Are Saying
Dritan Nesho, CEO of HarrisX and co-director of the Harvard CAPS/ Harris poll, told Newsweek: “Views around the direction of the economy and the country improved drastically after Trump’s election and only dipped in April as he disrupted markets by levying widespread tariffs that voters think went too far. If you put the tariffs to the side, the trend is clear: despite all the disruption Americans are feeling they’re better off financially and this reflects inflation, their key economic concern, actually dropping to 2.3% in April, very close to the 2% target rate. Therefore, when it comes to the tariffs and the economy, Trump appears to be his own worst enemy.”
Asked when the U.S. economy will become solely his responsibility, President Trump, told NBC News earlier in May: “It partially is right now. And I really mean this. I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy because he did a terrible job on everything. Ultimately, I take responsibility for everything,” he added. “But I’ve only just been here for a little more than three months.”
Democratic pollster Matt McDermott previously told Newsweek: “The challenge for Trump is that tariffs don’t hit all at once. They take a few months to ripple through the supply chain.”
What’s Next
The Harvard-Harris finding will likely be tested in coming months by key economic indicators: updated inflation reports, GDP revisions, and the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates. The economy will remain a major issue for voters heading into the 2026 midterms next year, as well as the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races later this year, which will be a major test of Trump’s popularity.
The post Americans’ View of the Economy Reverses Four-Year Trend in New Poll appeared first on Newsweek.
