President Donald Trump’s approval ratings on the economy and inflation have declined following weeks of tariff uncertainty and market volatility, according to a new CBS News poll.
The survey of 2,410 Americans, conducted April 8–11, found that 44% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 40% approve of his handling of inflation—both down four percentage points since March 30. His overall approval rating dropped to 47%, compared to 50% in March and 53% in February.
A majority of respondents—59%—rated the U.S. economy as either “fairly bad” or “very bad,” and 53% said they believe economic conditions are worsening. Nearly half (49%) said Trump’s policies are making them financially worse off, while only 21% said they feel better off as a result of his decisions.
On inflation, 58% of Americans believe Trump’s policies are driving prices higher, particularly for groceries, while only 18% expect his decisions will reduce costs. Similarly, 62% said his approach is negatively affecting the stock market.
Public opinion on Trump’s tariff policies remains sharply divided. While 51% support his goals on tariffs and trade, only 37% approve of how he is executing those policies. Political affiliation played a major role: 91% of Republicans said Trump has a clear trade strategy, compared to just 43% of independents and 16% of Democrats. Overall, 58% of Americans oppose new U.S. tariffs on imported goods.
Trump recently paused a planned tariff increase, announcing a 90-day delay and reducing levies on many goods, with certain electronics temporarily exempted.
Despite market turbulence following his earlier tariff announcement, major U.S. indexes rebounded by the end of last week.
