The CBS News/YouGov poll finds that one year into President Trump’s second term many Americans — including some supporters — feel the administration has not focused enough on lowering prices. A majority say their incomes are not keeping pace with inflation, and most people judge the economy primarily by price changes. Republicans largely say Mr. Trump has exceeded expectations, but support has slipped among independents and younger voters. A strong majority favors Federal Reserve independence despite the president’s public disagreements with the Fed.
CBS/YouGov Poll — One Year In: Americans Say Trump Must Do More on Rising Prices
CBS News poll: 1 year in, Americans call for more inflation focus from Trump
One year into President Trump’s second term, a new CBS News/YouGov poll finds broad concern that the administration has not done enough to lower prices. While most Republicans say Mr. Trump has exceeded expectations, many Americans across the political spectrum — including some of his supporters — continue to report that their incomes are not keeping pace with inflation.
Key Findings
Prices Drive Voter Perceptions: Poll respondents identify prices as the primary measure they use to judge the overall economy; indicators such as the stock market or jobs carry less weight for most people. A large majority say their household income is not keeping up with rising costs.
Partisan Views Split: Republicans overwhelmingly report that Mr. Trump has done more than expected in his first year back in office. However, independent and younger voters have become less favorable toward his economic performance compared with a year ago, contributing to overall mixed assessments.
Policy Perceptions: Despite net negatives on some issues, Republican approaches — particularly on the economy and immigration — still outpace Democrats’ approaches for many respondents. At the same time, few Americans say the president’s policies have made them better off financially; more report being worse off than better or the same.
Federal Reserve Independence
Even after public disagreements between President Trump and the Federal Reserve over interest-rate policy, a large majority of Americans say it is best for the economy if the Fed makes decisions independently, rather than follow the president’s preferences.
What People Say About the President
When asked how much Mr. Trump has accomplished in his first year back, responses are mixed. Those who say he has done less than expected are particularly likely to cite insufficient focus on reducing prices. Emotional reactions vary by party: words like “uneasy” and “frustrated” were common overall, while Republicans were more likely to choose positive descriptors such as “confident,” “satisfied,” or “safe.”
Trends and Voter Priorities
Ratings of the president’s handling of the economy have recovered somewhat from earlier lows as he has emphasized economic issues. Still, economic concerns — including inflation, jobs and overall economic conditions — remain top priorities for voters. Recent attention to events in Minneapolis and overseas has also raised the salience of immigration and foreign-policy issues.
Survey Methodology
This CBS News/YouGov survey interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2,523 U.S. adults between January 14–16, 2026. The sample was weighted by gender, age, race and education using data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, and by 2024 presidential vote. The poll’s margin of error is ±2.3 percentage points.
Help us improve.
