Nearly two-thirds of middle class say they are struggling financially: Poll

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE ECONOMY IS A TOP ISSUE FOR AMERICAN VOTERS.

AND THE SENTIMENT FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS –

IS IT’S NOT DOING WELL –

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST POLLING.

ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS CONSIDERED “MIDDLE CLASS” SAY THEY’RE FACING “ECONOMIC HARDSHIP”.

AND DON’T EXPECT THAT TO CHANGE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR LIVES.

THAT’S PEOPLE MAKING 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR – WHICH IS 200% THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

BUT EVEN FOR HIGHER-INCOME AMERICANS –

PEOPLE MAKING MORE THAN 150 THOUSAND FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR – OR 5 TIMES THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL –

A QUARTER OF THESE EARNERS SAY THEY ALSO WORRY ABOUT PAYING THEIR BILLS.

OVERALL – REGARDLESS OF INCOME LEVEL – 60% OF RESPONDENTS SAY THEY ARE FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING.

WHICH COINCIDES WITH 62 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SAYING INFLATION IS A BIG PROBLEM IN A RECENT PEW RESEARCH POLL.

THE NEGATIVE SENTIMENT FOUND IN THIS LATEST POLL WAS EVIDENT IN EVEN MORE STATS.

40 PERCENT LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

46 PERCENT DON’T HAVE 500 DOLLARS IN THE BANK.

A RECENT GALLUP POLL SHOWS 46 PERCENT OF AMERICANS VIEW THE ECONOMY AS “POOR”.

56 PERCENT BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS IN A RECESSION IN THE LATEST HARRIS POLL.

BUT THIS “FEELING” ON HOW THE ECONOMY IS DOING –

DIFFERS FROM SOME ECONOMIC REPORTS SHOWING POSITIVE GROWTH IN THE U.S. ECONOMY.

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“You can see every quarter we’ve had reasonably strong economic growth, so why people feel this is really quite a mystery.”

“Sentiment poll after sentiment poll shows us people really dont like this economy, which is dangerous for an incumbent seeking reelection, and every single poll shows biden doesn’t get credit for the fact that we have stock markets at record highs.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE ECONOMY – AND THE CONTRAST IN FEELINGS TOWARD IT —

IS ALSO CAPTURED WHEN COMPARING CAMPAIGN ADS OF BIDEN AND TRUMP’S.

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“Today, we have the strongest economy in the world.”

“All of the things that Biden passed have helped the middle class. Wages are going up around here.”

“I feel like joe biden understands people like me.”

“OVER 12 million jobs have been created. And joe biden’s building an economy that leaves no city no american behind.”

“Not one thing is cheaper under crooked joe. Food, gasoline, cars, trucks, rent. They’re all through the roof.”

“Joe biden has set a lot of records. Like 40 year record high inflation.”

“Are you better off now than you were in January 2021? No, i’m not. That’s me being honest, i’m working five times harder.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

HOW WELL THE ECONOMY IS DOING –

IS OFTEN A NUMBERS GAME.

AND DEPENDING ON HOW ONE INTERPRETS THE DATA –

THERE’S OFTEN VERY DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS.

WITH THE ECONOMY POLLING AS A TOP ISSUE MONTHS AWAY FROM ELECTION DAY – IT’S LIKELY TO PLAY SOME ROLE COME NOVEMBER FIFTH.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

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