While the White House refuses to say that the United States is in a recession, a significant majority of Americans say that the country is in a recession or something even worse, according to a new poll.
A recent Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll of 1,000 registered U.S. voters conducted between July 22 and July 25, 2022, asked participants if the U.S. economy is in an economic recovery, stagnation, recession, or depression.
Over 50% of respondents said the U.S. is in a recession, plus nearly 16% who declared that the country is suffering through a depression. There was an additional 18% who felt the nation was experiencing stagnation. Only 9% felt the U.S. was in an economic recovery.
The Biden administration has been lampooned for attempting to change the traditional definition of recession – which is widely accepted as two consecutive quarters of decline in a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Even left-leaning CNN mocked the Biden administration for attempting to change the definition of a recession.
Brian Deese – director of the National Economic Council –had his old definition of recession come back to haunt him this week as he tried to protect the Biden administration.
The survey found that 58% of Americans said that they were going out to eat less often because of inflation.
The sputtering economy has taken a toll on President Joe Biden’s job approval.
A mere 15% of voters “strongly approve” of President Biden’s job performance, while 55% of Americans “somewhat disapprove” or “strongly disapprove.”
There were 46% of Americans who said they want a Congress who stands up to President Biden, versus 42% who want lawmakers who cooperate with the president.
With the midterm elections only 101 days away, Americans were asked what issues would affect their vote in November.
The top voter issue is the economy (20%), followed by abortion (15%), inflation and the cost of living (10%), and immigration (4%).
Gun control, climate change, and healthcare were all under 4%.
Voters were asked if Democrats and Republicans do a proficient job of representing the political views of Americans, or if a third party or multiple parties are necessary. There were 24% who said the two major parties were good enough, but there were 26% who said a third party is necessary and 33% who said multiple parties are necessary.