Voter Optimism on Finances Returns to Pre-Shutdown Levels

Publication Date: 02/04/2026 5:00 AM CST

Voter Optimism on Finances Returns to Pre-Shutdown Levels

Publication: 02/04/2026 5:00 AM CST

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One third (32%) of voters say their finances are getting better, and 30% say they are getting worse.
- This is the most optimistic voters have been since the government shutdown, and nears the best numbers in 5 years.
- These opinions are an improvement compared to 2 weeks ago, when 28% said their finances were getting better, and 33% said worse.
- A month ago, opinions were similar to this week: 30% said their finances were getting better, and 30% said worse.
- In the midst of the government shutdown in November, opinions were gloomier: 25% said their finances were getting better and 39% said worse.
From July 2021 until just before the 2024 election, more people were pessimistic than optimistic about their finances in every survey.
- The current perceptions are among the least pessimistic in nearly 5 years.
On a brighter note, 45% of voters rate their personal finances as Good or Excellent, 3 points higher than 2 weeks ago.
- In early November, ratings on personal finances as Good or Excellent were at 37%, the lowest since President Trump took office.
- Identical to 2 weeks ago and a month ago, 21% of voters rate their finances as Poor.
- When President Biden took office in 2021, 48% of voters rated their personal finances as Good or Excellent.
- By the time President Trump took office in 2025, those rating their finances as Good or Excellent had fallen to 36%.
- More than half (56%) of Republicans say their finances are Good or Excellent, but only 39% of Democrats say the same.
- Likewise, a large majority (66%) of postgraduates rate their finances are Good or Excellent.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, February 2-3, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.