Americans' confidence in the economy retreated in April, with Gallup's
Economic Confidence Index averaging minus 14 for the month, down from
minus 10 in March. The April average ties with September 2015 as
numerically the worst since confidence started climbing toward positive
territory in late 2014 and early 2015 after gas prices began to decline.
The high point in confidence occurred in January 2015 when the monthly
index averaged plus 3, while the low point was minus 60 in October 2008.
Since March 2015, Americans have been more upbeat about the
current state of the economy than about the direction in which it is
headed. In late 2014 and early 2015, as gas prices dropped, the two
ratings were generally similar. In April, 24 percent of Americans rated
current economic conditions as "excellent" or "good," while 30 percent
said they were "poor," resulting in a current conditions score of minus
6. At the same time, 37 percent said the economy was "getting better"
and 58 percent said it was "getting worse," for an economic outlook
score of minus 21. The gap between the two ratings ties as the largest
in the past year.
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