Poll Shows Americans See Flagging Economy

A majority of Americans recently polled on the state of the national economy say that it is slowing down or currently in a recession or depression.

The Gallup poll results, taken from January 21 to 27, 2019, overlapping the end of the partial government shutdown, by the numbers: 39 percent of respondents say the U.S. economy is slowing, 17 percent believe it is currently in a depression or recession, while 41 percent say that the economy is growing. Stock market volatility was also cited as a possible stressor on Americans' view of the overall economy's health, predating the shutdown.

Gender may also play a role in shaping economic attitudes. Nearly half of men (48 percent) say the economy is growing, compared with 34 percent of women. And while this disparity may seem to be an extension of the growing gender gap seen on political issues, men were also more positive about the economy in the December 2012 poll, if not to the same degree, despite different political circumstances.

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