Why Despite a Stable U.S. Economy, 40% of Americans Think it is in Poor Condition

Every American I know is struggling to pay bills and feed their families. Young adults can no longer afford a home at all. Economic performance isn’t trickling down to everyday Americans. It’s personal realities that often don’t align with the more technical measures of economic health.

Measuring the Economy Differently

Those choosing to believe the measures often hand over financially significant gains due to the use of deceptive methods. The traditional way to measure the economy was based on the amount of savings an average income person had in the bank with zero debt.

Now, the economy is measured by interest rates, a metric that can be manipulated and sometimes obscure the reality for the average citizen. As billions of government tax money are poured into the economy to support millions of foreign border crossers, it appears great on the surface. However, the checks written will have to be paid by someone, and the blame will likely fall on those least prepared to shoulder it.

Source of Misleading Measures and the Reality of Growth

The GDP grew by 1.6 trillion from 2022 to 2023, but the deficit was around 2 trillion. This means that all of the growth was caused by increased government spending, not a healthy economy. Additionally, GDP per capita was down by $300 billion, indicating that the economic growth was not spreading and benefiting the average citizen.

Political Influence on Economic Perceptions

The perception that the economy is in poor condition is heavily influenced by political beliefs. Some Republicans and Trump supporters believe the lies and refuse to watch mainstream media, fearing the truth. A Republican ad I saw recently warned that we are “HEADED for a recession,” a tactic to scare people into worrying about the future economy instead of the current realities.

Biden did not do a good job of explaining that inflation was world-wide and that we did a much better job of handling it than most countries. Many people still believe the inflation rate is still high. Tackling this perception is crucial, as many believe Trump’s lies and see an economy that is still recovering from the previous recession.

The Trump administration and MAGAts often focus on the number of immigrants the government supports, diverting attention from the actual economic issues faced by the average American. The economic narratives created by both sides can significantly influence public opinion, leading to unrealistic expectations or misleading perceptions of the health of the economy.

Understanding the true state of the economy requires a critical analysis of economic indicators and a recognition of how these metrics are used to shape perceptions and narratives. It’s important to consider the personal realities of the average American, as these are often far removed from the technical measures of economic performance that politicians and media may focus on.