Sixty-five percent of political independents in a Harris Poll said the economy had gotten worse, up from 48% in September 2024, as affordability shaped attitudes ahead of the midterm elections.
The finding appeared in Harris’ Oct. 22 research roundup, which highlighted its poll with The Guardian and described growing economic dissatisfaction among independents.
The online survey covered 3,998 U.S. adults from Sept. 24 through Oct. 3, according to the poll’s publication partner.
Harris reported that 61% of independents believed the country was in a recession, an eight-percentage-point increase from May 2024. Those responses describe perceptions of the economy, distinct from measured output.
Output grew while prices continued rising
The Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Sept. 30 update put real economic growth at an annual rate of 2.5% in the first quarter and 2.2% in the second. The first-quarter figure was revised upward from 2.1%.
The Consumer Price Index rose 3.7% over the 12 months ending in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is a year-over-year change, rather than the monthly increase expressed at an annual rate.
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