Bloomberg poll finds optimism on economy
CHICAGO—Almost six months into Donald Trump’s presidency, Americans are feeling fairly optimistic about their jobs, the strength of the U.S. economy, and their own fortunes.
The latest Bloomberg National Poll shows 58 percent of Americans believe they’re moving closer to realizing their own career and financial aspirations, tied for the highest recorded in the poll since the question was first asked in February 2013.
A majority expect the U.S. stock market to be higher by the end of this year, while 30 percent anticipate a decline. Yet they don’t necessarily think Trump deserves credit for rising markets and falling unemployment.
Just 40 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing in the White House, and 55 percent now view him unfavorably, up 12 points since December. Sixtyone percent say the nation is headed down the wrong path, also up 12 points since December.
Trump scored his best numbers on his handling of the economy, but even there the news for him isn’t great. Less than half of Americans—46 percent— approve of Trump’s performance on the economy; 44 percent disapprove. He gets slightly better marks for job creation, with 47 percent approving.
“If you take the president’s scores out of this poll, you see a nation increasingly happy about the economy,” said pollster J. Ann Selzer, who oversaw the survey.
A majority—54 percent—believe Trump will manage to create trade deals more beneficial to the U.S., but that’s down from 66 percent in December. There’s division on whether he’ll be able to bring a substantial number of jobs back to America, or significantly reform the tax code.
And despite his assurances that he and congressional Republicans will repeal Obamacare and replace it with a new health care bill, 64 percent of Americans say they disapprove of his handling of the issue.
There are at least two areas where Americans say they believe Trump will deliver: Almost two-thirds say he will make significant cuts in government regulation, though it’s not clear whether most think that’s a good or bad thing. Likewise, 53 percent believe he will succeed in deporting millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.
There is one notable bright spot for Trump. Though views of the White House as an institution are at the lowest level ever recorded by the poll—with 48 percent now viewing it unfavorably, up 21 points since December—Trump’s voters are still sticking with him. Among those who cast ballots for him, 89 percent still say he’s doing a good job.
(The telephone poll of 1,001 American adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, higher among subgroups. It was conducted July 8 to 12 by Iowa-based Selzer & Co.)
“If you take the president’s scores out of this poll, you see a nation increasingly happy about the economy.” —Pollster J. Ann Selzer