Fastrack · Americans Grow Most Dissatisfied With Finances in Decades, Polls Show

Americans earning six figures are souring on the economy, joining lower earners in near-record pessimism days before the midterms.

30.2% of six-figure earners say finances are improving, down from 45.2%.
10% drop in Michigan consumer sentiment over the past year.
3.7% inflation in September 2026, down from a 9.1% peak in 2022.
Half of US consumer spending comes from the richest 10% of Americans.

Why it matters: Spending by top earners has helped keep the economy growing. Bank of America Institute data shows that spending growth is slowing.

Inflation-adjusted wages are now falling after rising from 2022 through mid-2026.
Pessimism among Republicans has grown, narrowing their gap with Democrats.

The story so far

17 steps · since Oct 7

Oct 7–13
Oct 148:39 AMUS Inflation Rises to 3.7% in September75 sources
Oct 14
Oct 15Wholesale Inflation Jumps Most in Four Years as Gas Soars30 sources
Oct 16–26
Oct 28Affordability, Power Bills Dominate Midterm Voter Concerns45 sources
Oct 31Trump's Approval Slides Ahead of Midterms Over Economy22 sources
Nov 1Americans Grow Most Dissatisfied With Finances in Decades, Polls ShowYou are hereLatest

How 8 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 8 sources

8 sources · 9 articles · 38% Left coverage

Where they split: Coverage differs on the cause: Business Insider points to prices and strained household budgets, while Asia Times argues inequality and concern for the broader economy matter more.

Center coverage, 3 sources: The center sees a gap between strong headline data and public mood, possibly explained by inequality that standard measures miss.

Asia Times2dAre Americans gloomy about the economy or is something else afoot? - Asia Times IBTimes4hMost Americans Don't Trust Polls But Results Still Influence Whether They Vote, Survey Shows RealClearPolitics50mBlue State/Red State Comparisons: A Winning Message for GOP

Left coverage, 3 sources: The left sees rising costs squeezing even six-figure households, creating a bloc of voters frustrated with government economic policy.

Business Insider1dEconomic concerns rise as six-figure earners feel the pinch CNN1d"Nobody’s listening": 5 things Americans told me about the economy that Washington needs to hear Raw Story1d'Major reason' for potential 'blue tsunami' emerges as NBC poll shows a 30-year first

Right2 sources

Hot Air1dThe Midterms’ Two Defining Issues Washington Examiner3hTwo economic visions: America First vs. global communism

What’s next: The midterm elections take place November 3, with economic concerns topping voter priorities.

Asia Times author Erin Kay Lockwood expects voters to treat the election as a verdict on President Donald Trump's economy.
Will slowing spending by high earners weaken overall economic growth?
How much will economic sentiment shift votes in swing states?