Americans Divided on Financial Security and Economy Amid Recession Concerns
A recent Harris poll conducted online from December 11 to 13, 2025, for The Guardian surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,180 US adults regarding their perceptions of financial security and the state of the US economy.
The poll found that 45% of respondents believe financial security is getting worse, while only 20% say it is getting better. Moreover, 57% of Americans think the US is currently in a recession, marking an 11-point increase from February 2025. However, economists note that the country is not technically in a recession, supported by recent strong growth figures.
Political divides are evident, with 52% of Democrats reporting worsening finances compared to 27% of Republicans. Independents align closer to Democrats, with 54% stating their finances have become worse and 58% believing the nation is in recession. Regarding the causes of rising prices, 76% of Democrats and 72% of independents blame the government, while 55% of Republicans blame government policies and 45% attribute it to corporate practices.
There are noticeable demographic differences: 62% of women believe the economy is in recession, with 50% saying their finances are worse, while among men, 52% perceive a recession and 39% report worse finances. Racial disparities also exist; 66% of Black voters and 67% of Hispanic voters believe the economy is in recession, compared to 52% of White voters. Hispanic respondents also showed an 11-point increase in recession perception since February.
Income levels influence perceptions as well, with 59% of those earning under $50,000 annually reporting worsening finances versus 37% of those earning over $100,000.
In response, the White House maintains that it is successfully steering the economy away from crisis and highlights that prices are declining under its leadership.
