CNBC’s latest poll puts President Donald Trump’s economic approval at 34%, its lowest reading across his two terms, in a survey that also found voter concern about the economy before the Nov. 3 U.S. midterms.
In its All-America Economic Survey, published Oct. 22, CNBC found that 65% disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy. The figures put his net rating at minus 31 percentage points. CNBC described the result as the weakest in its polling across Trump’s two terms. In July, 38% approved and 60% disapproved. CNBC said its sample included 1,000 registered voters nationwide and gave a sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The survey found that 80% rated economic conditions fair or poor, while 63% were pessimistic about conditions and the outlook. Among Republicans, 35% expressed pessimism, six percentage points above July. CNBC quoted Micah Roberts, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies, saying, “We got there not because of independents or Democrats getting more sour — it’s because Republicans have.”
Food, gasoline and housing costs together were the top concern for 57% of respondents. Food and groceries were named by 34%, compared with 23% for gasoline. Those answers reflect respondents’ stated concerns, not measured price changes.
A Pew Research Center survey of 5,062 U.S. adults, conducted Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, found that 37% rated the economy only fair and 42% rated it poor. It also found that 36% of Republicans and Republican-leaning adults considered conditions excellent or good, down from 41% in July. Pew surveyed adults, while CNBC surveyed registered voters.
CNBC respondents preferred Democratic control of Congress by 52% to 45%, a seven-point gap that widened by three points from July. A separate national generic congressional ballot poll from the NBC News Decision Desk found Democratic candidates ahead 55% to 45%; EconoTimes previously covered that survey. The polls asked different questions, and neither result shows how many seats either party will win. The Federal Election Commission lists Nov. 3, 2026, as the next regularly scheduled federal general election.
