Real incomes per capita, although lower than they were when the government was handing out stimulus checks, are higher than before the pandemic.
But, you say, people feel that they’re worse off — I agree that narrative is floating out there — except overall, they really don’t.
I’ve written before about swing-state polls in which solid majorities of voters say that the economy is doing badly, but at the same time comparable majorities say that they themselves are doing well.
The widely cited Michigan survey asks respondents whether their financial situation is better or worse than it was five (not four) years ago: 52 percent say better, 38 percent say worse.
And again, when voters are asked about their personal well-being as opposed to the state of the economy, they’re relatively positive — although even there, partisanship shades responses.
Persons:
I’ve, Biden, —
Organizations:
Trump
Locations:
Michigan