Overview
- Half of respondents expect the stock market to rise over the next six months, while one quarter think it will fall.
- Forty-nine percent foresee U.S. economic growth increasing in the near term, reflecting some recovery from last spring’s pessimism.
- Sixty-two percent anticipate higher inflation and 50% expect unemployment to worsen, with Democrats expressing a darker outlook than Republicans.
- Gallup surveyed 1,000 adults by phone from Jan. 2–17, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
- Media coverage ties the sentiment to the midterms, with Semafor reporting the White House is counting on larger spring tax refunds to help Republicans as Politico-cited analysts caution any boost may be short-lived.