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66% of Americans Fear Imminent Recession, Poll Reveals

5/1/2025

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Americans Fear Recession

A recent CNN/SSRS poll shows a troubling sentiment among Americans, with 66% expressing pessimism about the economy and 69% fearing an imminent recession. As consumer confidence wanes, spending is affected, and worries about tariffs and erratic policies intensify the risk of a self-fulfilling downturn, even amidst some glimmers of positive retail activity.

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Trump Blames Biden

The U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% in Q1 2025, its first decline since 2022, fueled by rising imports and sluggish consumer spending growth of just 1.8%. Economists had anticipated a 0.4% growth. With tariffs looming, analysts fear stagnation and recession, while President Trump points fingers at former President Biden for the economic woes.

History

Historical Context

The current economic pessimism mirrors sentiments from the 2008 financial crisis, when consumer confidence plummeted amid fears of recession. Historical patterns show that economic downturns often stem from rising tariffs and erratic policies, leading to self-fulfilling prophecies of stagnation, as seen today.

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Americans Fear Recession

A recent CNN/SSRS poll shows a troubling sentiment among Americans, with 66% expressing pessimism about the economy and 69% fearing an imminent recession. As consumer confidence wanes, spending is affected, and worries about tariffs and erratic policies intensify the risk of a self-fulfilling downturn, even amidst some glimmers of positive retail activity.

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