I'll gather current data on the economy, polls and policies to assess how Americans are faring.
Whether Donald Trump is improving lives depends on which metrics and whose experiences are prioritized. Polling and economic data show mixed results:
What recent polling shows:
•An AP-NORC poll in early October 2026 found just 26% of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the economy overall, marking a new low, and only 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living.
•In that same poll, a majority, 65%, of U.S. adults now blame Trump's policies for persistently high costs more than factors outside of his control, with reporting noting growing weariness over his aggressive use of tariffs.
•More than half of adults say the country as a whole, the national economy, and their local economy are worse off since Trump was reelected in 2025. Forty-six percent say they and their families are worse off since the start of Trump's second administration, and 73% say the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Other polls show similar economic concerns, with 74% saying Trump's tariffs have increased the prices of what they buy at the store, with nearly half (49%) who say the tariffs have worsened their personal quality of life.
What economic indicators show:
•When Trump took office in January 2025, the economy had increasing economic growth, low unemployment, and declining inflation in the aftermath of the 2021-2023 inflation surge.
•Growth slowed: The economy grew at a 2.8% pace during Biden's last year, compared with 2.2% under Trump in 2025.
•Inflation: The personal consumption expenditures price index was 2.6% in both 2024 and 2025. Other measures showed inflation at 3.3% year-over-year in March 2026.
•Jobs: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that a paltry 273,000 new jobs were created between March 2025 and March 2026, later revised down by 79,000 to just under 200,000, described as a sluggish labor market.
•Tariffs have raised the effective U.S. import tax rate from roughly 2% to nearly 12% since he took office.
•Wage growth: Average inflation-adjusted hourly earnings for all private-sector employees rose by only 0.7 percent from January 2025 through January 2026.
Some data points cited by supporters as positive:
•The Census Bureau said the 2025 poverty rate fell to 10.2 percent, the lowest ever, and real median household income rose 2.6 percent to $87,460.
What the administration and supporters point to as improvements:
The White House describes its record as sealing the border, driving violent crime to historic lows, unleashing American energy, and cutting taxes for working families.
Specific claims include:
•Ended "catch-and-release" — and has not released a single illegal alien into the country for 15 straight months
•The U.S. recorded negative net migration in 2025 for the first time in at least half a century
•The share of Americans viewing crime as a "very" serious issue fell by nearly 15% in 2025
What critics point to as worsening conditions:
•Critics argue tariffs, health care changes, and other policies raise costs. For example, Senate reports claim Trump's policies and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act forced millions off health care due to premium price hikes and that tariffs and other costs have raised financial hardships for families.
•Some analyses argue the economy is worse off by measures like consumer sentiment, manufacturing jobs, and deficit growth.
In short, evaluations are divided: supporters cite border security, crime, deregulation and tax changes as improvements to daily life and safety, while critics and current polling majorities cite higher prices, tariff-related costs, and slower job and wage growth as making life more difficult.