Most New Jerseyans Share Nation's Gloom on Economy, but Feel Better About Their Own Finances

The state's youngest, Black and lower-income residents report the greatest personal strain

GLEN MILLS, Pa. (July 27, 2026) – New Jerseyans view the national economy about as dimly as the rest of the nation, yet they feel notably better about their own financial and job situations, according to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton and SSRS Garden State Panel survey.

Questions in this release were fielded by SSRS, a nationally recognized polling and policy research firm based in Glen Mills, Pa., and a partner of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. 

New Jersey residents rate both the national economy and the job market much like Americans overall, with majorities giving each a negative review. Fifty-eight percent of New Jerseyans rate the United States economy as “bad” or “very bad,” nearly identical to the national figure of 57%. Similarly, 53% of New Jerseyans rate the U.S. job market negatively, compared with 49% nationally. The national figures come from the SSRS Economic Attitudes Tracker, fielded quarterly with a representative sample of U.S. adults ages 18 and older. 

New Jerseyans feel very differently about their own circumstances, though. While 18% rate the national economy as “good” or “very good,” nearly half (48%) rate their own financial situation positively and 52% say the same about their own employment. New Jerseyans are more likely than U.S. adults overall to give positive marks to both their financial situation (47% versus 40%) and their employment situation (51% versus 46%).

“The story emerging from these data is one of cautious resilience,” said Jenny Berg, SSRS vice president and director of the Economic Attitudes Tracker. “New Jerseyans are as dissatisfied as the rest of the country with the national economy and job market, yet many feel they are faring better personally.  As we see nationally, a significant number of residents are actively changing their spending habits to cope with financial pressures, and in N.J. those challenges are especially concentrated among younger adults, African Americans, and lower-income households."

Nearly 3 in 4 New Jerseyans (73%) say they tried to reduce their utility bills in the three months before the survey, sharply higher than the 64% of Americans overall who report the same. Majorities also say they have changed the groceries they buy to stay within budget (61% versus 58% nationally) and cut back on extras and entertainment (60% versus 57% nationally). In contrast, New Jerseyans are slightly less likely than Americans overall (27% versus 31%) to report recently canceling or postponing a health care appointment or treatment.

Economic sentiment and experience vary sharply throughout the state. The youngest adults, Black and Hispanic residents and lower-income households consistently report the greatest strain in their own finances, employment and household spending, and they are pulling back on necessities at far higher rates than their older, white and higher-income counterparts.

Among adults ages 18 to 34, economic strain is far more common than among their older counterparts. More than a third (36%) rate their own financial situation as “bad” or “very bad,” compared with 22% of those ages 50 to 64 and 10% of those 65 and older. On employment, 27% of young adults rate their own situation negatively, versus 17% of those 35 to 49 and 9% of those 65 and older.

Their spending cutbacks follow the same pattern: 75% cut back on extras and entertainment, 71% changed the groceries they buy and 46% canceled or postponed a health care appointment or treatment, compared with 38%, 46%, and 13%, respectively, among residents 65 and older. Young adults are also more downbeat on the national economy, with 63% rating it “bad” or “very bad,” though the most pessimistic age group is those 35 to 49, at 68%.

Black residents report the deepest strain of any racial or ethnic group. They are the most downbeat on the national economy, with 78% rating it “bad” or “very bad,” well above the 53% of white residents who say the same. Nearly half of Black residents (45%) rate their own financial situation negatively, compared with 16% of white residents, and 27% rate their employment situation negatively, versus 10% of white residents. Black residents also report the steepest spending cutbacks in the state: 91% cut back on extras and entertainment, 79% changed the groceries they buy and 44% canceled or postponed a health care appointment or treatment, compared with 47%, 55%, and 20%, respectively, among white residents. Hispanic residents report similar pressure, cutting back on extras and entertainment (84%), groceries (82%) and health care (47%) at comparably high rates.

Economic strain follows a steady income gradient. Among residents in households earning less than $50,000, 45% rate their financial situation as “bad” or “very bad,” compared with 12% of those earning $100,000 to $149,999 and 6% of those earning $150,000 or more. On employment, one in three (33%) rate their situation negatively, versus 8% of the highest earners. The spending divide is just as sharp: 80% of lower-income residents cut back on extras and entertainment, 77% changed the groceries they buy and half (50%) canceled or postponed a health care appointment or treatment, compared with 43%, 48%, and 16%, respectively, among residents earning $150,000 or more.

“This is the all-too-familiar and unfortunate tale of two New Jerseys,” said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling and an assistant research professor at Rutgers-New Brunswick. “The state's youngest, Black and Hispanic and lower-income residents are carrying far more of the strain, cutting back on groceries, bills and even health care at rates their older, white and wealthier neighbors simply are not. It is the same divide we see again and again when we measure well-being, health, and economic security across the state."

New Jersey results are from a statewide poll conducted by SSRS of 1,006 adults contacted through the probability-based Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from June 25 to June 29. The full sample has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. National comparison figures are drawn from the SSRS Economic Attitudes Tracker, a nationally representative survey of 1,030 U.S. adults conducted June 18 to June 22, 2026. The margin of error for U.S. respondents is +/-3.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Results are available at https://ssrs.com/wp-content/uploads/SSRS-Economic-Attitudes-Survey-Wave-6-Topline.pdf.