The latest polls are in agreement: 57% of respondents to a recent YouGov/Economist survey disapproved of the president’s handling of major issues, including jobs and the economy (1), and 57% of respondents to a Quinnipiac University poll say the same (2).
This is an opinion certainly shared by Lynn from Missouri, a 31-year-old hairstylist who, as Newsweek reports (3), told Caleb Hammer that she believes President Donald Trump’s return to the White House is the cause of her debt, while speaking to him on a recent episode of his podcast, Financial Audit.
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The latest polls are in agreement: 57% of respondents to a recent YouGov/Economist survey disapproved of the president’s handling of major issues, including jobs and the economy (1), and 57% of respondents to a Quinnipiac University poll say the same (2).
This is an opinion certainly shared by Lynn from Missouri, a 31-year-old hairstylist who, as Newsweek reports (3), told Caleb Hammer that she believes President Donald Trump’s return to the White House is the cause of her debt, while speaking to him on a recent episode of his podcast, Financial Audit.
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She explained that she’s $40,000 in debt and her business is suffering as people avoid spending on luxuries, like hair care, while inflation continues to be a concern and the job outlook remains rocky. Her boyfriend is also unable to find work in the construction industry, she noted.
However, Hammer wasn’t interested in backing up her claim, saying she was “overexaggerating the potential impact of what things are like in this exact moment.”
Instead, he points to high interest rates and Lynn’s own career decisions for her situation.
So who really is to blame? Here’s an analysis of the latest data, plus ways small business owners can cope with an uncertain economy and slack consumer spending.
Economic pessimism is running high, in spite of mixed signals that point to both healthy economic growth and potential issues down the line.
The GDP, which decreased by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data, recovered quickly with growth of 3.8% in the second quarter. Gloomy reports that predicted a recession have turned around, with analysts predicting growth in 2026, but warning that the labor market needs careful scrutiny (4).
The unemployment rate has ticked upward to 4.3% as of August. Personal income decreased 0.4% in May of this year, and disposable income decreased 0.6%, according to the BEA. The cost of living continues to rise, with the Consumer Price Index up 0.3% as of September. Topping it off, credit card debt reached $930 billion across the country, the highest level ever, reports CNBC (5).
Interestingly, a recent Gallup poll showed that only 54% of Americans currently view capitalism favorably (6), the lowest in the history of the firm’s poll.
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