Nearly one-quarter of Americans who voted for Donald Trump in 2024 report being in a worse financial position since his second term began last year, according to a new survey. The Financial Times/Focaldata poll, conducted from August 7-11, found that 24% of 2024 Trump voters and 23% of those who backed him in 2020 believe they are worse off. Overall, 53% of the 2,152 respondents across both parties said their financial situation has declined since Trump took office for a second time, while 20% reported being better off and 26% reported no change.
The poll results follow a period of increased costs for consumer goods and energy. Annual inflation reached 3.4% in July, as measured by the consumer price index, compared to 3% in January 2025 when the president was inaugurated. Energy prices have shown particular volatility, with fuel prices rising 14.7% year-over-year last month after reaching a peak of 23.5% in May.
Public sentiment regarding the national economy appears lower than support for the president himself. More than 60% of all survey respondents, including 37% of 2024 Trump voters, said the economy is moving in the wrong direction. While half of his 2024 supporters approved of his handling of the economy and job market, overall approval for these areas among all respondents was less than 30%.
Specific costs have shifted significantly for motorists and households relying on fuel. Gas prices averaged approximately $4.06 per gallon as of Monday, a figure roughly $1 higher than the average of less than $3 recorded in late February. This change occurred alongside the start of the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. While the poll does not calculate a precise dollar-amount loss per household, the reported 14.7% annual increase in fuel costs would be directly visible in the amount families pay at the pump each week compared to the previous year.
The survey suggests potential knock-on effects for the upcoming midterm elections. As of August 2026, a majority of voters surveyed express dissatisfaction with the direction of the economy, which historically influences voter turnout and legislative priorities. With the survey's margin of error at 2.1 percentage points, these figures provide a statistical baseline for current voter sentiment. The next major indicators of economic performance will be future monthly consumer price index reports and the outcome of the midterm elections, for which specific dates were not reported.