American voters have become more pessimistic about the economy since the start of the conflict with Iran, according to a CBS News poll released Sunday.
More than three out of four respondents said they felt “concerned” about the economy, while two in three said they felt “stressed” as the war continues to affect the U.S. economy, such as stubbornly high inflation, CBS News reported. President Donald Trump’s handling of inflation likewise received just 27% approval in the survey.
The Consumer Price Index rose 3.8% year-to-year in April, the highest jump since May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The poll also found 77% of respondents noted their pay was not keeping up with expenses, with nearly three in five citing gas prices as a “hardship.”
Big numbers of Americans are concerned & stressed about finances.
Feelings of being secure & content about them are down from last year.
Ratings of the economy, which have long been low, have slid lower to levels not seen since 2023.
77% say incomes not keeping up w/ inflation.… pic.twitter.com/SdTs1nfbEW— CBS News Poll (@CBSNewsPoll) May 17, 2026
Are you concerned about the current state of the economy?
The average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. on Sunday was $4.51, according to AAA, up over $1.50 from $2.98 on Feb. 26, days before the start of military operations against Iran. Diesel prices have also soared to an average of just under $5.65, largely due to skyrocketing oil prices since Operation Epic Fury began. WTI Futures Crude Oil closed Friday at $101.02, up over 60% from the market’s Feb. 27 close, according to Investing.com.
The regular flow of tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway separating the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, stopped after Iran began launching missile and drone attacks in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Only 29% of the poll’s respondents said the economy was “good,” while 65% described the economy as “uncertain” and 63% called it “struggling.”
Respondents, however, did not seem sold on alternatives from the Democratic Party. Only 35% said the Democrats offered better policies, compared to 31% for Trump and the Republicans, although 70% said they were “frustrated” or “angry” about the economy.
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