Home » Faith in American dream dwindles amid sour economic sentiments, poll finds

Faith in American dream dwindles amid sour economic sentiments, poll finds

Poll of adults in the U.S. finds that a low percentage believe the American dream holds true today, while many think it no longer holds, or never did.

ArecentWallStreetJournal-NORCpollofadultsintheU.S.revealedwidespreadsoureconomicsentiments,withjust31%indicatingthattheythinktheAmericandream—thatapersoncangetaheadbyworkinghard—remainstrue. Awhopping46%indicatedthattheybelieveditpreviouslyheldtruebutnolongerdoes,while23%indicatedthattheideaoftheAmericandreamneverheldtrue.Thenearly70%ofindividualstakingthoseviewsmarksthegreatestlevelinnearly15yearsofpolls,accordingtotheJournal. ThesurveyofadultsconductedbetweenJuly10-23,2025hasan“overallmarginofsamplingerroris+/-3.39percentagepointsatthe95percentconfidencelevel,includingthedesigneffect,”thestudymethodologysectionofthesurveynotes. NEWNGACHAIRSAYSAMERICAIS‘EXCEPTIONAL’INPUSHTOREVIVEAFADINGDREAM Manypeopleareconcernedaboutthecostofgroceries,with28%extremelyconcernedaboutfoodprices,28%veryconcerned,and30%somewhatconcerned,whilejust10%werenotv