That’s the current state of the nation’s brain, according to the latest Fox News investigation.
Only 29% are sure the worst for the economy is over, up from 25% in 2022.
But more than twice as many, or 67 percent, see no signs that the economy has begun to fall into a corner. This includes the maximum number of Republicans (84 percent) and independents (77 percent).
Among Democrats, nearly half don’t believe the worst is over (46%), a majority thinks the economy is in bad shape (59%), and most are worried about inflation (84%).
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(Fox News Poll)
Overall, 89% are concerned about inflation. While that’s about where the level of concern has been hovering for the last year, it’s down from a high of 93% in July 2022.
But let’s be clear: inflation remains the most sensible concern, ahead of other priorities such as threats to human rights and freedoms (82% of those affected), rising crime (82%), political divisions (82%), the war between Israel and Hamas (74%), terror attacks (73%), gun legislation (72%) and abortion (71%).
(Fox News Poll)
78% of the electorate rate the economy negatively, and 47% describe it as “bad,” down 19 points from at the start of the Biden administration. In April 2021, 28% said the situation was bad.
“Two things are driving negative economic ratings,” says Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, whose firm Beacon Research conducts the Fox News survey along with Republican Daron Shaw. “One is inflation is still biting. It has slowed, but prices haven’t come down. The second is partisanship. Republicans almost universally give negative ratings to the economy, while during Trump’s presidency Democrats gave highly negative ratings. Personal fortunes have not changed along partisan lines since then, but presidents have.”
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President Biden’s job rating is negative by 19 points: 40% approve and 59% disapprove. That matches a low point also hit in July 2022.
His low approval score is due to new lows among men (37% approval), the under-forty-five electorate (37%), the Hispanic electorate (38%), and high school graduates (43%).
About four years ago, at the end of October 2019, former President Trump’s task scored negatively on 15 issues (42-57%).
(Fox News Poll)
Biden’s notes on some issues are also gloomy. It’s water through 40 things about inflation (29% agree, 69% disapprove), -32 things about the economy (33-65%), -31 things about immigration (33-64%), -23 things about guns ( 36-65%), 59%), -16 things about his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas (39-55%), and -17 things about national security (40-57%).
Among Democrats, Biden’s worst rating is 56% approval on inflation, while his best rating among Republicans is 18% on Israel.
For independents, their approval score is 33% on national security and the lowest is 19% on the economy.
“After the 2023 election, some analysts argued that Democrats didn’t have a problem, but Biden did,” Shaw says. “The knowledge here suggests there is something to that. The president’s ratings on almost every single factor are bad and getting worse. “
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Voters were also asked to share – in their own words – why they give Biden good or bad marks.
The reasons most frequently offered for why they approve are his handling of the economy/inflation (23%), in general “doing a good job” (13%), his accomplishments (12%), he’s looking out for the American people (12%), he’s better than Trump (7%), his handling of foreign policy (7%), and he’s a good person (6%).
The biggest change since this summer is among those saying they approve of Biden because he’s “better than Trump” — that number has fallen 8 percentage points, from 15% in August to 7% today.
(Fox News Poll)
The main explanation for disapproval is also the main explanation for approval: Biden’s handling of the economy and inflation (25%). Others disapprove because of his age/mental state (18%, up from 14% in August), I think Biden does a poor job (12%), his handling of foreign policy and borders/immigration (8% each), and he doesn’t care about fellow Americans (7%).
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(Fox News Poll)
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Held November 10-13, 2023, co-led by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw
Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.