Exclusive Harris poll for the Guardian shows 55% believe economy is shrinking, in troubling sign for president’s re-election bid

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/15676201

Nearly three in five Americans wrongly believe the US is in an economic recession, and the majority blame the Biden administration, according to a Harris poll conducted exclusively for the Guardian. The survey found persistent pessimism about the economy as election day draws closer.

The poll highlighted many misconceptions people have about the economy, including:

  • 55% believe the economy is shrinking, and 56% think the US is experiencing a recession, though the broadest measure of the economy, gross domestic product (GDP), has been growing.

  • 49% believe the S&P 500 stock market index is down for the year, though the index went up about 24% in 2023 and is up more than 12% this year.

  • 49% believe that unemployment is at a 50-year high, though the unemployment rate has been under 4%, a near 50-year low.

  • PeepinGoodArgs@reddthat.comEnglish
    104·
    6 months ago

    From Words That Work, by a prominent conservative political messaging consultant:

    Americans know what they believe, even if they don’t know or can’t explain why they believe it or give you any evidence to prove it.

    But if your beliefs lack justification, then you’re dumb.

    Americans are dumb.

    There. I said it.