Trey Paul, FISM News
[elfsight_social_share_buttons id=”1″]
If you’re an American and you believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, you’re not alone.
According to the latest Gallup survey, 79% of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction the country is headed, compared to only 21% of Americans who say they are satisfied.
21% of U.S. adults are satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., up from 17% in August and 13% in June and July. https://t.co/n5tLin7aAw pic.twitter.com/T0tSYBGPDt
— GallupNews (@GallupNews) September 27, 2022
“After Americans’ satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. dipped to near-historical lows in June and July as gas prices soared, it has now returned to where it was in April,” Gallup researchers said.
Recent Gallup data also shows more than eight in 10 were dissatisfied each month between May and August.
The question at hand: “In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are doing in the United States at this time?”
Gallup researchers noted that satisfaction has averaged 18% so far this year which means it’s on track to rank among the lowest yearly averages along with 1979 (19%), 2008 (15%), and 2011 (17%).
As for why Americans aren’t satisfied, all eyes continue to point to inflation. The prices of just about everything have soared to the highest level in decades this past year, leaving many to question the government and what the Biden administration is doing about it.
“Currently, 22% of Americans name the government as the most important problem, while 17% say inflation is,” Gallup researchers said. “To a large degree, people may see the government’s inability to successfully deal with matters such as inflation, high gas prices, COVID-19 or the major issue of the day as the problem, rather than those issues specifically.”
“Twelve percent mention the economy in general terms, the only other issue to be cited by at least 10% of Americans in response to the open-ended question. Beyond those issues, between 4% and 6% of Americans name immigration, race relations or racism, unifying the country, abortion, elections, election reform or democracy, poverty, or crime as the most important problem,” researchers found.
The price of gas continues to be a point of concern for Americans. Gas prices hit a record high this year and as FISM News reported this month, the nearly 100-day streak of declining gas prices has come to an end.
According to AAA, the national gas average is $3.76, up from $3.19 a year ago and $2.93 on former President Donald Trump’s last day in office.
“Three percent of Americans mention gas prices specifically, similar to the June and July figures of 5%, but much lower than in 2008, when gas prices reached their prior record high,” Gallup researchers said. “In June 2008, 25% of Americans said gas prices were the most important problem, second only to general mentions of the economy that month. At that time, 6% of Americans mentioned inflation. This year, Americans may see higher gas prices as part of inflation more broadly, rather than as a separate issue.”
FISM News noted in a recent report that while commenting on the state of the economy, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen predicted high gas prices in the winter and said the Federal Reserve will need “skill” and “luck” to avoid a recession.
As for who is dissatisfied, the Gallup data shows the satisfaction level varies by political party.
“The recent improvement in satisfaction has occurred among both Democrats and independents, with no meaningful change among Republicans. Compared with June and July, when an average of 20% of Democrats were satisfied, 31% of Democrats now say they are satisfied. Among independents, the increase has been about as large, from 14% to 24%. Four percent of Republicans were satisfied in June and July, on average, compared with 6% in September,” researchers said.
Researchers also found more than eight in 10 Republicans (88%) and Democrats (82%) rate their own party as better able to handle their top issue.