The latest Napolitan News survey finds that 27% of voters say their personal finances are getting better, and 35% say they are getting worse. That -8 net is 1 point higher than 2 weeks ago and 4 points higher than a month ago.

With a single exception this is the most positive voters have felt about their finances since mid-March. The exception occured in early July, when 29% said their finances were improving and 34% said they were getting worse. This coincided with a large uptick in optimism due to talks of an approaching deal to end the war.

How Does It Add Up?

So, how does this mild increase in optimism add up with President Trump's 38% approval rating on the economy and 34% approval rating on inflation?

The answer is fairly straightforward: Scott Rasmussen, founder of the Napolitan Institute, notes that "It typically takes about 6 months of good economic news before voters stop waiting for the other shoe to drop."

Take a look at monthly averages on personal finance tracking to see how voters are feeling over the long-term.

The Summary

Shortly before the war with Iran, optimism on personal finances was near its highest in 5 years. With the onset of war came numbers that rivaled the pessimism of when Joe Biden was in office. Now, voters are somewhere in the middle.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, August 31-September 1, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.