Americans are in a somber mood as the country enters the New Year.
Asked last month what they predicted in 2023, the most-predicted economic woes were higher taxes, political strife and continued instability abroad, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday.
The largest majority – 90% – say they believe this year will be marred by political unrest, while 81% expect their tax bills to increase and 79% believe economic difficulties will continue.
After years of tight restrictions due to COVID-19 and inflation rates at 40-year highs, Americans see no relief in 2023.
Almost eight out of ten – 78% – forecast an increase in the federal budget deficit, 65% expect prices to continue to rise and 63% expect stock markets to fall.
A Gallup poll released on Tuesday shows Americans are pessimistic about the economy, taxes and political unrest going into the new year.Gallup, Inc.
Nearly three in four Americans (72%) say crime will continue to rise.
“Government, the economy and inflation dominated as the top issues facing the US in 2022, and economic confidence remains among its worst readings since the Great Recession,” the survey said
Americans are equally grim about international events – with 85% facing conflicts abroad, 73% believing China will increase its power and 64% saying the US will lose its global influence.
Meanwhile, 64% of respondents say Russia will also experience a loss of power, apparently due to the setbacks it is facing in its war with Ukraine
“Americans are greeting 2023 with great skepticism and little expectation that the economic struggles that ended 2022 will ease. Few US adults are also predicting that the partisan politics plaguing the nation will improve, not an unreasonable expectation considering there will be divided government in 2023 after Republicans take control of the US House of Representatives won,” the poll summarized the results.
The poll polled 1,803 adults between December 5 and 19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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