The Epoch Times
The Epoch Times
AD
The Epoch Times
Social Issues

Why People Feel the Economy Is Bad, When Data Show Improvement

The data don’t capture the pain experienced by a large segment of society, experts say.
Why People Feel the Economy Is Bad, When Data Show Improvement
Shoppers at a grocery store in Centreville, Va. on Nov. 2, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
Petr Svab
Petr Svab
Reporter
1/19/2026|Updated: 1/19/2026
0:00

The U.S. economy is either chugging along nicely or seriously struggling, depending on who is asked. The mismatch stems from perception and perspective. While many of the macroeconomic data look benign, they don’t capture the pain experienced by a large segment of society, several experts told The Epoch Times.

At 4.4 percent, unemployment has been only slightly elevated and the median wage growth of 4 percent has more than kept up with 2.7 percent inflation, all according to December data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Petr Svab
Petr Svab
Reporter
Petr Svab is a reporter covering New York. Previously, he covered national topics including politics, economy, education, and law enforcement.
twitter
Author’s Selected Articles
PA Automatic Voter Registration System Filters Out Noncitizens, but Process Flawed, State Audit Says
Apr 21, 2026
PA Automatic Voter Registration System Filters Out Noncitizens, but Process Flawed, State Audit Says
SAVE America Act Has Failsafe to Ensure Enforcement
Apr 08, 2026
SAVE America Act Has Failsafe to Ensure Enforcement
Immigrant Influx to Largest Cities Craters in 2025
Mar 26, 2026
Immigrant Influx to Largest Cities Craters in 2025
What to Know About the SAVE America Act
Mar 19, 2026
What to Know About the SAVE America Act
AD
Add to My List
Save
The Epoch Times
Copyright © 2000 - 2026 The Epoch Times Association Inc. All Rights Reserved.