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Why over two-thirds of Americans say their country is in decline
Inflation and healthcare worries are driving the pessimism, with 47% saying rising prices are causing real financial pain, the survey found.
- A new American Communities Project survey finds 70% of Americans believe the United States is in decline, marking a 15-point jump from 55% in 2025.
- This shift is largely driven by communities that voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, with Trump-supporting areas showing diminished optimism since 2025.
- Inflation remains the top concern, but healthcare surged to the No. 2 issue as 30% of Americans cite it as a priority, a 10-point jump from 2025.
- Financial hardship is particularly acute among younger and minority groups; 61% of Gen Z, 65% of Hispanics, and 63% of Black Americans report serious financial problems from rising prices.
- The American Communities Project at Michigan State University surveyed 2,155 American adults in September 2026, studying how attitudes differ across 15 distinct types of communities nationwide.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Two-thirds of Americans say their country is in decline as midterms approach
The 2024 midterms take place on Tuesday, November 3
·London, United Kingdom
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Bozeman Daily Chronicle+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
Why over two-thirds of Americans say their country is in decline
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
·Cherokee County, United States
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Why over two‑thirds of Americans say their country is in decline
by Dante Chinni, Michigan State University and Ari Pinkus, Michigan State University, [This article first appeared in The Conversation, republished with permission] Inflation is causing real economic pain. Worries about healthcare costs have jumped sharply. And 7 in 10 Americans believe the country is in decline. That is the landscape for the 2026 midterm election, according to a new survey from the American Communities Project at Michigan State…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 30%
C 50%
R 20%
Factuality
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