WASHINGTON _ For the first time since President Donald Trump was elected, more Americans say the economy is getting worse than getting better.
A new Quinnipiac Poll shows 37% saying the economy is declining, compared with 31% who continue to see improvement. Only 30% say the economy is staying about the same, the lowest number on record.
Polls have consistently shown the economy to be Trump's strongest suit, but the Quinnipiac poll could be a turning point. Not only are people less optimistic, but they're also blaming Trump: For the first time, more Americans say his policies are doing more harm than good, 41% to 37%.
"As trade tensions with China dominate the headlines, confidence in the economy is slipping," said Quinnipiac pollster Mary Snow. "And roughly 4 in 10 voters blame the president's policies, saying they are hurting the economy, the highest level since Trump took office."
The decline in economic expectations may also be a function of just how high-flying the perception of the economy still is: 61% say the economy is excellent or good, down from a high-water mark of 71% in May; 37% say it's poor or not so good.
Still, the poll confirms other data points _ like declining consumer confidence among Republicans and independents _ suggesting that Trump's fate may be tied to the economic outlook in 2020.
Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,422 registered voters nationwide from Aug. 21 to 26, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
