Persistent Prices Sour Holiday Spirit as Majority Rate Economy ‘Poor’

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll finds that American shoppers are facing a holiday season marred by persistent financial strain, with the vast majority citing stubbornly high prices for everyday essentials. The poll delivers a sobering assessment for President Donald Trump, showing that widespread consumer pessimism remains a significant threat to his administration’s popularity, despite official efforts to buoy public confidence in the economy.

According to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, a significant 68% of U.S. adults continue to believe the nation’s economy is in “poor” condition. This sentiment is largely unchanged from the period preceding Trump’s return to office, indicating a deep-seated frustration that transcends the recent changes in administration. The data underscores that for most families, the central point of pain is not the current rate of inflation—which has slowed to around 3%—but the accumulated level of prices that remain elevated compared to recent years.

The price of groceries stands out as the most widely felt financial burden, with 87% of U.S. adults reporting higher-than-usual food costs in recent months. This concern is closely followed by about two-thirds of respondents who have also experienced increased prices for electricity and holiday gifts.

The squeeze on household budgets is forcing fundamental changes in consumer behavior. Roughly half of Americans report delaying big purchases, cutting back on nonessential spending, or dipping further into their savings than they normally would. Many are actively “scouring for bargains” to stretch limited resources. For some, like Sergio Ruiz, a 44-year-old voter who backed the President, coping mechanisms include utilizing “buy now, pay later” services to spread out the cost of gifts for his children.

The public’s negative outlook reflects directly on the White House. Only 31% of U.S. adults approve of President Trump’s handling of the economy, marking the lowest approval rating he has registered on the issue in an AP-NORC poll across both of his terms. Even among his core Republican base, approval has slipped, falling from 78% in March to 69% in the latest poll.

This discontent persists even as the President touts a booming economy and seeks to dismiss the concerns over affordability. Trump has publicly insisted that there is “no” inflation and has, at times, referred to the affordability crisis as a “hoax” perpetrated by political rivals. Economists and critics, however, point to the administration’s use of tariffs as a factor that contributes to inflationary pressures, keeping prices for certain goods high and generating anxiety about the economy’s stability.

Looking ahead, the poll found little optimism for a swift rebound. Few Americans expect the economic situation to improve meaningfully in the coming year, a finding that complicates the administration’s attempts to inspire confidence. About four in ten expect the economy to be worse in 2026, a pessimistic outlook that suggests the pervasive feeling of financial strain is likely to remain a central issue in the political landscape leading up to future elections.

Sources and Links

• The Associated Press: “Most Americans see higher prices for groceries and gifts, poll finds,”
• The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research Poll (December 2025).
• PBS Newshour: “Consumers aren’t having a very merry holiday season, AP-NORC poll finds”  
• AP News: “Trump’s handling of the economy is at its lowest point in AP-NORC polling”  
• YouTube/Scripps News: The cost-of-living concerns are further examined in a related news segment.