Expectations for the Economy
Looking ahead, employed adults are cautiously pessimistic about the U.S. economy over the next year. While 17% expect the economy to improve "a lot" and another 24% expect it to improve "somewhat," a combined 34% anticipate conditions will worsen, including 15% who expect the economy to get "much worse." One in five (20%) believe the economy will stay about the same, suggesting limited confidence in a meaningful turnaround.
Age and party sharpen these expectations. Younger workers (21% improve a lot) are more optimistic, with adults under 40 more likely to expect improvement, while workers age 50 and older (9%) are notably more pessimistic; ages 50-59 (11% improve a lot) and ages 60-65 (6% improve a lot). Republicans (28% improve a lot) are more inclined to foresee improvement, while Democrats (11% improve a lot) and Independents (9% improve a lot) are more evenly split or negative. Regionally, pessimism is strongest in the West (19% get much worse) and Central/Great Lakes (16% get much worse) regions, mirroring broader "wrong track" sentiment seen elsewhere in the survey.
Spending Cutbacks and Household Strain
Rising costs are translating into tangible behavioral changes for most employed adults. 83% report having cut back on spending due to rising prices over the past year, including 39% who say they have done so "significantly" and another 44% "somewhat." Only 15% say they have not cut back at all.
Cutbacks are widespread across demographic groups but are most intense among lower-income households (46% significantly), middle-aged workers - ages 40-59 (42% significantly), and caregivers (53% significantly). Women (42% significantly) are more likely than men (37% significantly) to report significant cutbacks, consistent with their more negative views of inflation and household finances elsewhere in the survey. Even among higher-income workers - $150K (71% at least somewhat), a majority report at least some reduction in spending, underscoring the breadth of the affordability challenge.
Views on the Epstein Files and Presidential Action
Opinion regarding the release of additional Jeffrey Epstein-related files is mixed. Half of employed adults view the action as appropriate (very and somewhat combined), including 28% who say, "very appropriately" and 22% "somewhat appropriately." Roughly one-quarter view the action as inappropriate (somewhat and very combined), while nearly one in four either have not heard enough to say or are unsure.
Partisan divisions are evident. Republicans (40% very appropriate) are more likely to say the release was appropriate, while Democrats (20% very appropriate) are more skeptical and more likely to view the action as inappropriate. Independents (14% haven't heard enough, 21% not sure) are the most uncertain, suggesting the issue has not fully crystallized in public opinion and remains secondary to broader economic concerns.
Approval of President Trump
President Trump's job approval among employed adults is net-negative, with 43% approving and 52% disapproving. Strong disapproval outweighs strong approval by nearly two-to-one, indicating greater intensity on the negative side.
Approval varies sharply by party, with Republican strongly approving of Trump's job as president (46% strongly approve). Independents (31% approve/52% disapprove) lean negative, while women (34% approve/58% disapprove) and older workers 31% approve/67% disapprove are more likely to disapprove. Men (50% approve/47% disapprove) are more positive about Trump as president, while younger workers ages - 18-29 (39% approve/44% disapprove) are more divided.
Approval of Governor Gavin Newsom
Views of California Governor Gavin Newsom are also underwater, though less polarized. Roughly 38% approve of his performance, while 46% disapprove; nearly one-quarter are unsure.
Approval is strongest among Democrats (13% approve/86% disapprove) and West Coast (39% approve/57% disapprove) respondents, while Republicans (79% approve/20% disapprove) are overwhelmingly negative. Compared with President Trump, Newsom generates less intensity overall, suggesting lower national recognition among employed adults outside California.
Conclusion
Taken together, the findings underscore a workforce that remains economically strained and cautious about the near-term outlook. While a minority of employed adults anticipate economic improvement, pessimism and uncertainty dominate expectations, particularly among older workers and non-Republicans. The overwhelming share of respondents reporting cutbacks in household spending highlights the depth and breadth of affordability pressures, cutting across income levels, age groups, and family circumstances. Even where optimism exists, it is overshadowed by lived experience, suggesting that inflation and cost-of-living concerns continue to weigh heavily on public sentiment and shape perceptions of economic reality.
Politically, these economic anxieties intersect with mixed and often polarized evaluations of leadership. President Trump's job approval is net-negative among employed adults, driven by strong disapproval among women, older workers, and Independents, while partisan divides remain stark; President Trump's number are better among men and Republicans. Views of Governor Gavin Newsom are also underwater, though marked by lower intensity and higher uncertainty, reflecting more limited national presence. Meanwhile, reactions to the release of Epstein-related files illustrate how non-economic issues can generate partisan splits without overshadowing core economic concerns. Overall, the data point to an electorate that is dissatisfied, cost-conscious, and deeply divided-conditions likely to persist as economic pressures remain central to political judgment and accountability.
Expectations for U.S. Economy
Cut Back on Spending
Views on Release of Epstein Files
Job Approval - President Trump
Job Approval - Governor Newsom
