A national economic analyst shared a nuanced view of the turbulent U.S. economy during and end-of-year episode of the “Anti-Social” podcast. Mark Hamrick, a Senior Economic Analyst with Bankrate, cited recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bankrate’s own research.
Hamrick discussed a recent Bankrate survey revealing that only 34% of Americans believe their finances will improve in 2026—a figure he said was “the worst it’s ever been” since the survey began in 2018. The data showed that 33% of respondents believe their finances will get worse, while the remaining third expect no change. Hamrick attributed this pessimism to “persistent inflation” and a perceived “lack thereof on the part of elected officials in Washington.”
Despite the somber survey results, Hamrick highlighted several areas for potential improvement.
He pointed…
