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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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President Donald Trump has been dealt another polling blow ahead of Christmas.
A new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that rising financial strain is causing Americans to cut back on non-essential spending and put off big-ticket item purchases ahead of the holiday season.
The poll also revealed that only 31 percent of Americans approve of how Trump is handling the economy.
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Why It Matters
The findings represent a setback for Trump, who promised to revitalize the U.S. economy and lower prices for Americans when he ran for the presidency.
Trump's low approval rating on the economy could present a political risk for the Republicans ahead of the crucial midterm elections in 2026.
White House spokesman Kush Desai told Newsweek: "President Trump and every member of his Administration are clear-eyed about the fact that Americans continue to reel from the lingering effects of Joe Biden’s generational economic crisis.
"Turning the Biden economic disaster around has informed nearly every action the Trump administration has taken since Day One, from unleashing American energy to cut gas prices to signing historic drug pricing deals to cut costs for American patients.
"Much work remains, and every member of the Trump administration continues to focus on recreating the historic job, wage, and economic growth that Americans enjoyed during President Trump’s first term."
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What To Know
According to the nationwide AP-NORC poll, conducted between December 4-8 on 1,146 adults, 48 percent said they were shopping for non-essential items less than normal. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percentage points.
Nearly nine in 10 adults (87 percent) reported higher-than-usual grocery prices, and about two-thirds cited the same for electricity and holiday gifts.
Lower-income adults, defined as those with annual incomes under $50,000, are especially likely to report delaying big purchases and cutting back on non-essentials.
The poll found that two-thirds of Americans described the national economy as poor, unchanged from polling before Trump’s return to the presidency.
The findings echoed the 2022 holiday season under former President Joe Biden, when high inflation led to similar consumer behaviors.
Although inflation has moderated since its four-decade high in 2022, high prices remain the primary obstacle for many Americans and expectations for an economic rebound in 2026 remain dampened.
The poll revealed that around four in 10 adults expect 2026 to be economically worse than 2025, while only around two in ten believe the situation will improve.
What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday: "When will I get credit for having created, with No Inflation, perhaps the Greatest Economy in the History of our Country? When will people understand what is happening? When will Polls reflect the Greatness of America at this point in time, and how bad it was just one year ago?"
Sergio Ruiz, from Tucson, Arizona, told The Associated Press: "Prices are up. What can you do? You need to make more money."
Millicent Simpson from Cleveland, Ohio, told AP: "[Trump] is making it rough for us. He’s messing with the government assistance for everybody, young and old."
What Happens Next
Trump and his administration have launched a national tour to boost confidence in the economy before the 2026 midterms.
Update, 13/12/25, 3:30 a.m. E.T. This article was updated with a White House statement.
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