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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.
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