Finding current data on how Americans' lives are changing — I'll pull together diverse measures of what's improved.
Whether Donald Trump is improving the lives of Americans depends on which indicators and which groups of Americans are considered. Data from his second term, which began January 20, 2025, is mixed:
Claims and indicators cited by the Administration
The White House describes the second term as a restoration of prosperity and security, citing:
•Closing the border - In FY 2026, Border Patrol recorded just 98,708 southwest border apprehensions — a 95% drop from the more than 1.8 million per year under Biden
•Crime reduction - In 2025, the U.S. murder rate fell 18.1% — tying the lowest rate ever recorded — and violent crime posted the largest annual drop on record
•Other claimed achievements include sealing the border, driving violent crime to historic lows, unleashing American energy, and cutting taxes for working families
•Energy and prices - The administration says gas prices are dropping sharply, with forecasts showing 2026 averages below $3 per gallon nationally for the first time since 2020, and that prescription drug prices saw their sharpest drop in 63 years
On the broader economy:
•GDP is growing at an annualized rate of 2.2% — a relatively solid pace and has expanded by about 3.2% since the end of 2024, just before Trump began his second term, described as the highest among the G7 over the same period.
•Inflation-adjusted median income reached USD 87,460 in 2025, up 2.6% and the highest level on record
Indicators cited by independent analyses and critics that show pressures
•Inflation: US inflation is now 3.7%, higher than the roughly 3% recorded in January 2025, when Trump began his second term, though still below the peak of about 9% recorded in 2022 under the Biden administration.
•Jobs: Since Trump returned to the White House, the US economy has added an average of about 34,000 jobs per month, significantly below the 122,000 jobs per month recorded in the final year of Biden's term. The number of people employed in manufacturing stood at about 12.6 million in September 2026, slightly below the level at the start of Trump's second term, although the unemployment rate remains relatively low at 4.2%.
•Distribution of gains: The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that when the combined impact of Trump-era tax cuts, the expiration of additional subsidies that helped lower health insurance premiums, and higher-than-expected price increases is taken into account, the middle 20% of households by income could be about USD 1,700 worse off in 2026, while the poorest 20% could be about USD 750 worse off. By contrast, the wealthiest 1% are estimated to benefit by an average of about USD 12,560, mainly from tax cuts.
•Tariffs and costs:
•The Tax Foundation estimated that Trump's tariffs will cost each household an average $820 in 2026.
•Research from the New York Fed estimated that the 2025 tariffs added 2.9 percentage points to consumer prices by February 2026.
•The Joint Economic Committee minority estimated American families have spent more than $4,700 extra on everyday essentials since President Trump took office, with average higher annual costs of $915 for housing, $856 for gasoline, and $310 for groceries.
•Housing and borrowing costs: The federal budget deficit in the fiscal year ended in September 2026 was about USD 2,000 billion, equivalent to about 6% of GDP. The interest rate on new 30-year mortgages has risen to 7.4% per year, compared with 6.9% when Trump returned to the White House. US diesel prices reached a record USD 6.52 per gallon in September 2026.
Public perception
Polling in late 2026 shows low approval:
•A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 31% of Americans approve of Trump's performance in office, down a percentage point from two weeks earlier and the lowest level in either of his presidential terms.
•A later Reuters/Ipsos poll ahead of the November 3 midterm elections found only 32% of Americans approving of his performance.
•An FT/Focaldata poll found that 53% of registered voters feel worse off than when Trump returned to the White House, and a Pew Research Center survey found that 60% of Americans believe Trump's economic policies have worsened conditions.
Available data show the picture remains complex: Relatively solid GDP growth, expanding AI investment and rising real median income are positive signs, while renewed inflation, slower job creation and high borrowing costs pose challenges. Assessments of whether lives are improving often vary by income level, region, and which issues — such as border security, crime, inflation, health care, or housing — are prioritized.