Consumer sentiment is lower now than when inflation peaked at 9.1% — and the richest 10% of Americans account for half of consumer spending
Polling is looking grim for Republicans ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3, 2026, due in large part to deep pessimism among the public about the economy. At first glance, this might seem surprising. With the exception of inflation, many economic measures remain strong, including gross domestic product growth. But consumer sentiment continues…