Only 2% Call U.S. Economy Excellent, Survey Finds

A Generation Lab online survey of 1,002 Americans aged 18–34, conducted April 26–29, found just 2% of respondents described the U.S. economy as excellent. Overall responses showed 52% rating the economy as bad, 29% as terrible, and 16% as good.

The negative view was strongest among the youngest adults. About 84% of 18–24-year-olds rated the economy bad or terrible, compared with 81% of 25–29-year-olds and 73% of 30–34-year-olds.

When asked who is responsible for the poor economic outlook, the largest share of respondents pointed to President Donald Trump. Across the full sample, 41% assigned responsibility to the president. Within the 18–24 group, 42% pointed to Trump and 32% cited corporate greed. Among 25–29-year-olds, 33% assigned blame to Trump and an equal share blamed corporate actors. The 30–34 cohort was most likely to assign responsibility to Trump at 48%; 2% of that group blamed former President Joe Biden.

Survey responses also varied by gender and identity. Roughly 90% of female, non-binary and other respondents rated the economy bad or terrible, compared with 73% of male respondents. Generation Lab reported a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points for the full sample, with larger margins for subgroup comparisons.

The survey noted several economic and geopolitical developments alongside the polling results. The Trump administration has supported pro-crypto measures, including backing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and signing the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins. Other indicators cited in the survey context included March inflation at 3.3% and gas prices rising above $4.45 per gallon. The poll also found 77% of respondents believe the United States made the wrong decision in taking military action against Iran, and many respondents expressed concern about potential food shortages and the risk of a recession.