Most Americans say economy is getting worse but Republican views do backflip

Harris poll finds 51% of Americans think US economy is worsening with views on Trump tariffs split on party lines

The majority of Americans believe the economy is getting worse rather than better, even as Republican views on the nation's finances have performed a dramatic backflip since Donald Trump's re-election, according to an exclusive poll conducted for the Guardian.

One month into Trump's second presidency, a Harris poll found that 51% of Americans now believe that the US economy is worsening, while just 20% said it was improving and 29% said it was the same.

39% of Republicans now believe the US economy is improving compared with just 8% last May. Over a quarter, 26%, believe it is worsening compared to 70% last May.

69% of Democrats now believe the US economy is getting worse compared with 36% last May; 11% think it is getting better compared with 32% last May.

Independent voters' views have shifted the least with 12% believing the economy is improving (11% last May) and 56% thinking it is getting worse (59% last May).

49% of all polled said tariffs will have a negative impact on the US economy.

43% of Republicans, 17% of Democrats and 19% of independents said the impact would be positive.

28% of Republicans, 63% of Democrats and 54% of independents said it will have a negative impact.