A growing sense of economic pessimism is taking hold in the U.S., as new Fannie Mae survey data reveals nearly 70% of Americans believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction. An even higher percentage (73%) say it’s a bad time to buy a house. Coupled with mounting concerns about the housing market, the findings underscore the challenges facing would-be homebuyers, and paint an increasingly bleak picture for consumer sentiment as autumn begins.
According to Fannie Mae’s September 2025 Home Purchase Sentiment Index, using data from the National Housing Survey, only 32% of respondents said the economy is on the “right track,” compared to a striking 67% who believe it’s going the “wrong track.” These numbers have shifted little during the past year, signaling a stubborn lack of faith in the nation’s economic trajectory, and the “wrong track” percentage ticked up from 64% in August. The steady majority express pessimism about the economy reflects ongoing turbulence from inflation, high borrowing costs, and the continued impacts of global events on U.S. households.
