Do you think the US economy is better or worse off now than it was one year ago?

Question

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

I’d have to look at the stats, but my gut feeling would be that, by most metrics, it’s probably worse.

First and foremost, Presidents get way too much credit and blame for the state of the economy. That’s not something that’s just strictly dictated by the policies of one man or woman. In a lot of senses, the economy just kind of “happens” around them. You can guide things, of course, but usually not so significantly and far-reaching where it’s just going to be a finger-snap and everyone is suddenly trending to be rich or poor. So I don’t usually buy the rhetoric of “so-and-so is ruining/saving the economy!”

That’s kind of the problem I have with Trump. It’s all steeped in a fundamental lack of understanding of economics…. which is fucking crazy because this dude went to Wharton Business School, and without daddy’s fall-back trust fund money, this dude is a comically bad businessman. Bankrupting a casino —A CASINO— is so bad that I’m almost reverse-impressed, lmfao. It’s been calculated that if he had just taken his father’s “loan” back in the 70s and just invested it and ridden the S&P averages over the decades, he’d have more money today than he’s accrued through his business ventures.

But everybody saw him on a businessman TV show, so that must mean he’s smart! Holy FUCK, America….🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Anyway….. important to remember that, despite propaganda to the contrary, America recovered very nicely from the pandemic under Biden, whether to his credit or not, and was still trending positively. Unfortunately, most Americans aren’t college-educated in Economics, so their economic health assessments are under-informed and generally poor, unable to look beyond how much they had to pay for something. The economy is so much more than that, that’s just the part that directly affects us…. and that’s the part that’s under the least control of a President that just kind of happens or doesn’t. Americans can’t see past “but muh gas prices! But muh grocery bill!”, and someone from the right-wing propagandasphere puts together a false, smart-sounding reason for them to believe and repeat to others, probably in this case some tripe about “Biden’s war on oil…” —LOL, he pumped more than Trump did, look it up🤦‍♂️😂— “…. has caused retail prices to skyrocket!” And that’s just simply untrue. But in America in 2025, or 2024 in that case…. Americans are fucking muppets and they don’t care. They’ve chosen a side, based on vibes, and they’ll obediently repeat these false narratives, and suddenly half the country believes incredibly stupid shit.

So, without going too much longer…. the tariffs are disastrous. He clearly has no idea how to use them. Blanket tariffs on countries are idiotic. Tariff specific products to bolster our own reliance on US-manufactured goods, that’s fine. But understand the big picture and why we are where we are in the first place….. Americans aren’t the kind of people who are going to live in a shack and walk 5 miles to and from a factory for a 14 hour shift, making cheap plastic parts or sewing fabrics together, all for the $4 an hour that keeps our prices here in America at the levels we’re accustomed to. Not to mention it’ll take longer than Trump is (hopefully) in office to even develop a domestic replacement supply chain on our end that we can rely on. You don’t just wave a wand and suddenly we have factories and textile mills again.

Also, the workforce is nowadays more and more primarily Millenial and Gen Z…. think of the people you know from those generations. In your case, probably your peers. Who of them can you envision working in a sweatshop sewing Nike Air Jordans together? You can’t get half of these people off of their phones or PlayStations…. THAT’S our army of manufacturers? That’s a big ol’ “fuck naw”, in my estimation. Most Americans want to sit at a desk, typing at a keyboard, and consuming ungodly amounts of sugar…. and they’ll complain day and night about it. We do not have the population to do this. That’s not to say my generation is looking for that type of work either, but anyone who’s only lived in the digital age? Forget it. Breaking sweats doesn’t seem to be anyone’s lane these days.

So I think the numbers would probably suggest a slight negative, but I’m also not ready to declare everything on fire just yet. We ARE trending towards a recession and the jobs reports have been underwhelming. The tariffs are ham-handed and chaotic, so investor confidence is shaky. That’s been bad for the stock market, which seems to desperately want to go up, but outside interference is causing uncertainty.

But I always say, one of the greatest lies told and sold in recent memory is that the U. S. economy was bad under Biden. Demonstrably untrue. And I say that as a guy who’s pretty lukewarm on Biden, I’m not here campaigning for him to be added to Mt. Rushmore. But the narrative that we were in dire financial straits as a nation last year during the election cycle was just straight up false.

But the right wing disinformation machine is the biggest monster I see American politics facing. THEY told people the economy was bad, along with Trump. Based on retail prices, no less…. the LAST thing a president of a capitalist economy can control. That was all corporate greed that was justified by the pandemic supply chain interruptions, and then as we recovered, Trump and FoxNews and such just said “the Biden economy is TERRIBLE!” strictly for political gain enough times and at loud enough volume that that became the false-reality people started living in.

It’s incredibly dumb to think that’s true, and that it’s not just these corporations hiding behind the idea of extended Covid issues that probably are no longer applicable trying to say “sorry, guys, we can’t drop prices yet…. uh…. because…becaaauuuusssseeee…. Joe Biden! Illegals! Fentanyl! Men in women’s sports! Electric vehicles…. except Elon’s, his are awesome because he hates trans people, but I’d still never drive one because gas is manly! Everything’s computer! I love Teslerrrrrr!”🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️😂😂😂

I mean…. holy FUCK, really and truly🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️😂😂😂 There’s no way we’re collectively this dumb…. yet it seems we clearly are.

I wish everyone had to take a year of college, and at very least study grown-ass adult macro- and micro-economics, and Civics, to understand how money and business work, and to understand how the government of our country works, particularly in relation to money and business. I’m always shocked and stunned when I see these red hats on my phone screen proudly proclaiming some economic fallacy as they take a break from hanging drywall and laying bricks😂😂😂 It would be hilarious if not so scarily impactful.

Alex-Snow · Accepted Answer

Worse without a doubt

NoDecision · Accepted Answer

A lot of companies are going bankrupt because of the tariffs, and we may be getting into a war. We have protests all over and ICE is not after the tough to find actual crooks, but the easy to find restaurant workers and field workers. Sorry I voted for the smuck now.

MrOracle · Answer

It's worse now because people don't react well to change, and we've had major changes. That said, a year from now, people are going to realize that crime is down, wages are up, inflation is down, and consumer spending will be increasing.

Economies don't turn on a dime, and re-shoring key businesses isn't fast or easy, but will have big, long-term positive benefits. Most people have no idea how vulnerable the entire West made itself by relying on Chinese manufacturing of so many strategic items. Both sides of the aisle are to blame, but Trump finally did something to fix that, but it will be years before we really feel the benefits of some big items.

lightbulb27 · Answer

hard to say. about the same, however, it has changed.

AI appears to be taking out jobs from what I hear.

US international travel costs has gone up.

Insurance rates remain high.

Housing market... tbd... may be softening.

I'm really surprised the market has held up... I wonder by what powers? huge debt, lots of debt maturing to roll over... few buyers... yet long rates remain 5% and the stock market is same... with two major wars going.

what version of twilight zone is this?

Bricealan · Answer

@simslover92 For me, my Fidelity portfolio is back up - past what it was before " The sky is falling, the sky is falling" -  panic  with the Tariffs being enacted.  Personally, I see no difference in costs, prices, etc, than before all of the "panic" we heard/saw regarding Donald Trump and his tariffs.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

Not by that much but it is noticably better. By the time Trump JUST got in office, the media was crying about egg prices that have been a problem for YEARS but lo and behold...

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/13/business/egg-prices-trump-inflation

No shot they called it a fiction becoming reality. Anyway, the cheapest eggs in my area just dipped below three bucks and is still falling when it was almost five less than a year ago.

Anonymous · Answer

For myself personally, it’s gotten better. My TSP (gov’t retirement) has gone up significantly. I’ve decided not to focus so much on everything as far as what people are complaining about. I’m focusing on where do I move my money so that it benefits myself as well as my family. Every administration has their moves as far as where they’re going to redirect things.

nawtee_me · Answer

Personally I think the economy over all is a little better. There are areas that might not be but also areas that are. It is the long term that will tell though. Already other countries are starting to build and produce their goods here to keep from paying the tariffs. It will get better and better as time goes. Sometimes you need a kick in the butt to get things moving…. lol.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm not from USA, so I can't be sure.

It probably wasn't good one year ago, because of counterproductive military help to Ukraine.

It probably isn't good now, because of supporting Israeli aggression on Iran.

I'd say it's about the same.

PessicaJeter · Answer

It's significantly worse than it was this time last year, and it's really not even remotely debatable.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Marginally better, even in California. Significantly better in Michigan. So i expect it’s better yet in other states not under corrupt leftist regimes.

MisterWack · Answer

Inflation on Eggs, Inflation on Canned Goods, Inflation on Utilities  Oh and if Iran Conflict Escalates we’ll see Oil Prices & Gas Costs Rise.

BadApple69 · Answer

By all units of measure the economy is better. There are more private sector jobs, the inflation is lower, interest rates are going down.

chrissykerdock · Answer

it's the same maybe slightly better prices at the grocery store but everything else has gone up

NathanDavis · Answer

personally... I have not seen a significant difference in "my economy" since the pandemia times

Geo1970 · Answer

It’s undoubtedly going to be worse off now, a year later! Look at the state of the European economy, including the United Kingdom.

loveslongnails · Answer

Are you fucking kidding? How many people are out of work now compared to then? How safe is it to fly now compared to then? How safe are your food products now compared to then? Give me an effin break.

UrbanLeather · Answer

Due to Trump's stupid nonsense tariffs, it is worse off than a year ago!! He is out of control!!

Sachem · Answer

Worse off. Except for gas, prices are higher than ever for everything.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Our trading representative there sees an increased reluctance to spend.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I think about the same. Maybe SLIGHLY worse, but only slightly

worldscolide · Answer

This time last year, 60 egges was 32 dollars.. Now 60 eggs is 14. dollars. Enough said.

KittygosMeoWW · Answer

I feel it’s the same but I imagine it’s worse since there’s issues with taxing and trade.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

Definitely worse you can afford to live everything is super expensive. They have no clue what they are doing

Kelley1 · Answer

There is no significant difference.

Twalli · Answer

It's not really a matter of what I think, but what the evidence shows

Dargil · Answer

Better off with a much better forecast.

WonderingManII · Answer

No opinion/other

Jeff51 · Answer

About the same for me.

RedInnocent69 · Answer

Just take a look at the debt clock…

Tom567456 · Answer

Worse, groceries cost more than ever

exitseven · Answer

Much better off.

Nora2004_ · Answer

Worse they did it to themselves.

dudeinohio · Answer

Same

Anonymous · Answer

Better

Anonymous · Answer

Better off

zombiewoof · Answer

Unstable

Anonymous · Answer

T ca

Do you think the US economy is better or worse off now than it was one year ago?

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