In a striking analysis for CNN, chief data analyst Harry Enten highlighted a significant and negative shift in public perception of the U.S. economy, presenting a major challenge for President Donald Trump's re-election narrative.
Polling Numbers Move in the "Wrong Direction"
Speaking with anchor Kate Bolduan on "News Central" this Monday, Enten pointed out that recent polling data is now "going in the complete wrong direction" for the President. He reminded viewers that Trump was initially elected to address economic and pricing crises. However, the public's current outlook tells a different story.
The crucial metric of whether people believe the country is on the right or wrong track economically has deteriorated sharply. Enten revealed that the portion of polled individuals who think the nation is on the wrong track economically has "skyrocketed" from 43% to 56% since Trump returned to the White House. Concurrently, those who believe the country is on the right track economically has fallen from 36% to 29%.
Inflation Drives Overwhelming Economic Pessimism
Enten described the collective shift as a "27-point spread in the negative direction" for the Trump campaign. He attributed this dramatic change to a disconnect between the President's attempted economic narrative and the lived experience of American voters, who are primarily concerned with inflation.
"My goodness gracious," Enten exclaimed for emphasis, underscoring the scale of the change. He stated unequivocally that worries over rising prices are "overwhelmingly driving this economic pessimism." In his assessment, inflation remains the top issue by a wide margin, directly fueling negative sentiment.
A Daunting Challenge for the White House
The analyst's conclusion presents a clear hurdle for the administration. Enten predicted that "until the American people think that inflation is under control, they will continue to have pessimistic feelings about the economy." He emphasized that inflation is, in his words, "numero uno" in shaping public economic opinion.
This data suggests that despite political messaging, the tangible impact of inflation on household budgets is currently defining the national economic mood, creating a substantial obstacle for Trump as he seeks another term.
