Snapshot: U.S. Satisfaction Edges Up to 25% in November

The FINANCIAL — Americans’ satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. has edged up to 25% in November from this year’s low of 21% last month, a reading that likely resulted from the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1. The current U.S. satisfaction reading remains lower than most readings taken earlier this year, including this year’s high of 32% in April.

Modestly higher readings among Republicans and independents explain this month’s uptick. Democrats’ satisfaction is now at 9%, independents’ is at 26%, and Republicans’ is at 44%. The latter two groups are both up six percentage points from last month, while Democrats’ satisfaction is about the same.

Republicans still remain less satisfied than in the months just after Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. Republicans’ satisfaction was as high as 58% in May. Democrats’ satisfaction has been at or below 16% every month since Donald Trump took office in January, according to Gallup.

Differences across other subgroups reflect underlying partisan patterns. Conservatives are much more satisfied with the direction of the U.S. than are moderates and liberals. Additionally, those who approve of the way Trump and Congress are doing their jobs are more positive on this measure than are those who disapprove. Men are more satisfied than women, whites are more satisfied than nonwhites, and those living in the Midwest are more satisfied than those living on the two coasts.

Relevance for leaders: This measure continues to provide a broad indication of Americans’ discontent with the way things are going in the U.S., which is notable given the public’s positive views of the economy. Gallup previously has found that high levels of dissatisfaction reflect, in part, Americans’ concerns about the government and the way it is operating. Republicans’ declining satisfaction since Trump’s inauguration is a warning sign to GOP leaders that despite their control of the executive and legislative branches, their base may be concerned about promises going unfulfilled.