Only 2% of young Americans consider the American economy “excellent”. The figure is tiny, but it speaks to a broader divide: for a large portion of 18-34 year olds, the promised growth is not seen in bills, gasoline or shopping carts. According to Generation Lab, 52% of respondents describe the situation as bad and 29% as catastrophic.
In brief
- Only 2% of young Americans rate the economy as excellent.
- Trump and big business are the focus of anger.
- The cost of living weighs more than pro-crypto promises.
An economy felt as blocked
The survey above all shows a two-speed economy: while Elon Musk's fortune exceeds 800 billion dollars, more than 84% of 18-24 year olds consider the situation bad or terrible. The contrast is brutal. It gives a more social than strictly macroeconomic reading of the American malaise.
It's not just a passing mood. It’s an established mistrust. Many young people see historic fortunes being built at the top, without finding this prosperity in their own daily lives.
Among 25-29 year olds, pessimism remains almost as strong. Among 30-34 year olds, it drops a little, but remains in the majority. In other words, entering working life no longer really reassures. The word “excellent” is almost impossible to find. It only concerns 2% of those questioned. In a country used to selling economic optimism, this result sounds like a red light. Political responsibility comes quickly in the responses. Among those who judge the situation poorly, 41% point to Donald Trump. Among 18-24 year olds, this share rises to 42%, due to the greed of big companies.
But the rejection is not only partisan. Large companies are also accused. Many young people see prices rising, without seeing wages follow at the same pace. Purchasing power becomes the real ballot. This double accusation is important. She says the problem goes beyond the White House. A part of American youth thinks that the economic system mainly rewards already powerful players.
Cost of living crushes pro-crypto discourse
The paradox is there. Trump may show a pro-cryptocurrencies line. He has even supported initiatives like the Bitcoin Act and the idea of a strategic BTC reserve. But this is not enough to change the economic perception of young people. Crypto speaks of the future, when gasoline speaks of the present.
Pump prices weigh heavily in this atmosphere. On May 4, 2026, regular gasoline reached an average of $4.46 per gallon in the United States, its highest level since the summer of 2022. It has gained $1.48 since the end of February, against a backdrop of the Iranian conflict and rising oil prices.
This energy pressure is linked to another concern: the Strait of Hormuz. The surge in oil prices, linked to tensions with Iran, has already been analyzed in the context of the standoff between Trump, Tehran and the oil markets. For households, this geopolitics always ends up taking a very concrete form: a more expensive fuel tank.
Inflation reinforces this pressure. Reuters points out that US inflation has remained above the Fed's 2% target for several years, with a new surge linked to energy. Annual PCE reached 3.5% in March, while some models anticipate even more tension.
A crisis of confidence above all
This poll doesn't just say that young Americans are unhappy. He says they no longer believe the official narrative. When only 16% judge the economy to be good and 2% to be excellent, the problem becomes narrative as well as statistical.
Other surveys confirm this political weakness. The April 2026 Harvard CAPS/Harris poll puts Trump's approval at 42%, with his lowest scores on inflation, the economy and handling of the Iran conflict.
Even the regulatory battle around crypto is not enough to reverse this impression. The debates on stablecoins, banks and digital legislation show an administration very active on digital assets, as illustrated by Tremplin.io's article on Trump, banks and crypto law. But for young Americans, the central subject remains simpler: living is expensive. The American economy is therefore not only judged on Wall Street. She is judged at the gas station, in rent, credits and groceries. And on this ground, young voters already seem to have delivered their verdict.
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