US Non-Stockholders' Consumer Sentiment Worst, Only 29% View the Economy Positively, Widening Polarization

US Non-Stockholders' Consumer Sentiment Worst, Only 29% View the Economy Positively, Widening Polarization

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With the US economy now dominated by AI data center construction, accounting for 39% of GDP, and the financial market boom fading away, consumer sentiment among non-stockholders is at its worst, worse than the pandemic, with only 29% optimistic about the economy.

Polarization in the US is intensifying. While wealthy Americans are spending freely, fueled by a strong stock market, low-income earners are increasingly burdened by persistent inflation.

The New York Times reported on the 13th, "The average hourly wage is still rising by about 3.7% annually, well ahead of the Consumer Price Index, but this masks the disparity between income levels. Those at the bottom of the wage ladder have experienced the slowest wage growth."

The New York Times reported that the US Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% (monthly increase from the previous month) in January, adding that “the personal savings rate fell to 3.5% in November, the lowest level since October 2022,” and that “more households are delinquent on debt, especially mortgages in low-income areas, and retail sales were unexpectedly weak in December.”

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According to a University of Michigan survey, the sentiment of “non-stock owners,” which directly influences the consumer sentiment of consumers who have not benefited from a vibrant financial market, is lower than when inflation peaked in 2022, and the gap with the “top third of stock owners” who are enjoying a stock boom has widened significantly.

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According to a poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College in January, Americans are increasingly pessimistic about their ability to afford life’s big-ticket items, and only 29% are optimistic about the economy.

The New York Times continued, "The labor market added only 181,000 jobs last year, the year Trump took office, the slowest pace since 2010, excluding the pandemic year of 2020." "Also, roughly two-thirds of the new jobs in January were concentrated in a single sector: health care. Without those 390,000 new jobs, the economy would have lost jobs last year."

The U.S. and South Korean economies rallied last year, fueled by trillions of dollars poured into AI data centers and a stock market boom, which accounted for 39% of the U.S. economy's growth last year.

"It's very unbalanced," Maxime Darme, chief economist at Allianz Trade, told the Times. "A few sectors are pulling ahead and supporting this growth. It's not a good thing in the short term."

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The surge in new health care hiring stemmed from the retirement of baby boomers, with health care accounting for two-thirds of new jobs in the U.S., while South Korea's growth was concentrated in social welfare.

Reuters reported on the 13th that "Americans, anxious about the labor market and economic strain, are dissatisfied with President Trump's economic management," and that "despite the Trump administration's rollback and reduction of tariffs on some imported foods, food prices rose 2.9% year-over-year."

Reuters continued, "For the 12 months through January, the CPI rose 2.4%," adding, "The year-over-year slowdown in inflation from 2.7% in December primarily reflects the exclusion of last year's high reading from the calculation. A more moderate inflation figure is unlikely to resonate with consumers."

Reuters specifically noted, "The Fed tracks the personal consumption expenditures price index toward its 2% inflation target," and "both measures are well above that target. Economists expect inflation to rise for some time this year, driven by the passing on of import tariffs and the dollar's depreciation against the currencies of major U.S. trading partners last year. The trade-weighted U.S. dollar fell by about 7.4% last year."

The Korea Economic Daily reported on the 13th under the headline, “US January Consumer Prices Up 2.4% YoY… Below Expectations,” that “This is the lowest increase in eight months since May of last year, and also fell short of the expert forecast (2.5%) compiled by Dow Jones.”

Money Today reported on the 14th under the headline, “US Interest Rate Cut Spark Rekindled, Inflation Lowest in 4 Years and 10 Months… “Trump’s Achievement”,” that “As the January CPI increase rate approaches the Fed’s target level of 2%, expectations are growing in the market that the Fed may be more proactive in cutting the base interest rate.”

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White House Press Secretary Kush Desai stated on the 13th, following the announcement that the consumer price index was 0.2% and the unemployment rate fell from 4.4% in December to 4.3% in January, that "President Trump has overcome Joe Biden's inflation crisis." "With inflation low and stable, the U.S. economy is expected to accelerate further with the Federal Reserve's long-overdue interest rate cut."

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President Trump told reporters on the 13th, "Very good financial numbers, very low inflation," adding, "We're seeing very moderate inflation right now, and that's exactly what you want."

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The New York Times/Siena National Poll of Registered Voters, conducted from January 12th to 17th, surveyed 1,625 registered voters nationwide. The survey asked, "Do you think the United States is on the right track or the wrong track?" 37% responded "on the right track," 56% "in the wrong track," and 7% "don't know/refused."

The poll asked, "How do you evaluate the state of the economy today?" 4% said "excellent," 25% said "good," 32% said "just fair," 38% said "poor," and 2% said "don't know/reject."

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"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Trump is performing his duties as President? (Follow-up question) Is it strongly or somewhat so?" 25% said "strongly approve," 10% said "somewhat approve," 47% said "slightly disapprove," and 3% said "don't know/reject."

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"If the general election were held today, which party's candidate would you most likely vote for in this district?" 48% said "Democratic," 43% said "Republican," and 97% said "don't know/reject." Respondents were 62% white, 12% Latino (Hispanic), 11% black (African) and 3% Asian.

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See <US Employment Worsens, 'Estimated 580,000 Shrinks by 180,000'; Korean Media 'Surprise Increase', February 12, 2026>

<K Economy: Scraping the Bottom and Pushing the Top, Stock-Driven Increase in High-Income Wealth, December 2, 2025>

<K-Shaped Polarization in the US-Korea Economy Leads to Decline in Consumer Confidence; Stock Market Rise Drives High-Price Housing Prices, October 29, 2025>

<Lee Jae-myung Promises Restoration of Park Chung-hee-Style Command Economy, 'KOSPI Surges by 5,000', January 3, 2022>

<Lee Jae-myung's Presidential Campaign Pledge to Boost Stock Market and Expand Monetary Policy: Hardline Conservatives to Expand Supply During Recession, May 14, 2025>

<AI Technology: Israel Targets Hamas; Lee Jae-myung 'Easing Polarization with AI', April 26, 2025>

<Lee Jae-myung: 'AI' "Sovereign People's Rule System" Stock Price Manipulation vs. US "Stocks Divide the Nation," April 14, 2025

<COVID-19 Treatments Lead to K-Economic Recovery, Stocks Maximize Wealth and Poverty, October 16, 2020>