What Do Americans Expect in Trump's Economy?

A Gallup (Center bias) poll released on Feb. 3 indicated Americans' economic optimism was at a 7-year-high.

The Data: Overall, Americans thought economic growth and the stock market would go up. They also indicated that they thought inflation would go up and were split on whether unemployment and interest rates would go up or down. The optimism around economic growth and the stock market was predominately driven by Republicans. 

How The Media Covered It: Outlets on the right and in the center covered the Gallup data, while the poll didn't receive coverage on the left. Outlets on the left were mixed when referring to general economic sentiment. Some reported on Trump's high approval rating and overall economic robustness, while others painted Trump's economy as chaotic and pointed out that Trump's tariffs would likely increase inflation. 

Why The Difference: Beyond partisan narratives, outlets on the left are also more likely to trust institutions, referring to stock traders and hard data about where the economy is right now. The right is less likely to trust institutions and more likely to report on the sentiments of average Americans, especially when the sentiment supports their preferred candidate.