Life on Hold: Americans hit pause as anxiety of Trump’s economy grows
- What’s happening to US consumers?
- Major life goals are being put on pause
- Affordability issues and economic anxieties
- Baby plans revealed the problem
- Americans are holding off on a lot right now
- Most want to make a big purchase
- Home prices and the rising cost of living
- Most think cost of living has gotten worse
- Opinions break down along party lines
What’s happening to US consumers?

Americans are re-evaluating major life events amid growing anxieties over the economic turmoil being produced by the Trump administration’s policies. Polling revealed Trump is creating more problems for people than he’s solving.
Major life goals are being put on pause

Commissioned by The Guardian, and conducted by Harris Poll from April 24th-26th, the new poll found that six in ten Americans told pollsters that the economy had affected at least one of their major life goals according to The Guardian.
Affordability issues and economic anxieties
Respondents cited a lack of affordability or their anxiety around the current economy as the reason their major life goal was affected. While Trump’s trade and tariff policies may not have been the direct cause, they appear to have played some role.
Baby plans revealed the problem

One example The Guardian used to show the gravity of the situation was that of future children. Of those who said that the economy had affected their plans to have kids, 32% said they were unable to afford a child and 33% were uncomfortable having one in the current economic climate.
Americans are holding off on a lot right now

However, it isn’t just children that Americans are putting on hold because of the current economy, they are also holding off on buying a house (75%), making a large purchase (66%), switching jobs (65%), doing an education program (61%), and getting married (60%).
Most want to make a big purchase

The Guardian pointed out that large percentages of respondents said they wanted to make a big purchase. For example, 42% stated they wanted to buy a house, but 75% of those people said that the current economy had derailed their potential purchase.
Home prices and the rising cost of living

Rising home prices have undoubtedly played a role in pushing the decision to buy a home for some Americans, a situation that the current administration has had very little bearing on, but many respondents seemed to blame the rising cost of living for their problems.
Most think cost of living has gotten worse

The Guardian revealed that 65% of the 2,102 American adults it surveyed thought the cost of living had worsened since the start of the year. 78% said they noticed a rise in their grocery bills and 66% said the same about their monthly bills and everyday expenses.
Opinions break down along party lines

Interestingly, opinions about the worsening condition of the economy broke down along party lines with 33% of Republicans believing the economy was getting worse whereas 64% of independents and 73% of Democrats thought it was worsening.