NEW JERSEY — A majority of New Jersey residents view both the state and national economies negatively, with widespread dissatisfaction also tied to taxes and affordability, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.
The survey found that three-quarters of residents rate New Jersey’s economy as either “poor” or “only fair,” including 29% who called it “poor” and 46% “only fair.” Just 21% rated the state economy as “good” or “excellent.”
Views of the national economy were even more negative, with nearly 8 in 10 respondents giving it a negative rating. Of those, 46% described it as “poor” and 33% as “only fair.”
“Pessimism continues to overwhelm New Jerseyans’ views on both the state and national economies, with negativity toward the national economy returning to its highest levels since spring 2025 and negativity toward the state economy up by double digits since fall 2024,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. “The message to both Trenton and especially Washington is clear: Rising costs, stagnant wages, and an ongoing affordability crisis have yet to be addressed in any way residents can feel.”
The poll also found strong dissatisfaction with how the state government is handling key economic issues. More than 8 in 10 residents said they were dissatisfied with the cost of living and affordability, while a similar share expressed dissatisfaction with taxes.
“New Jersey families are clearly feeling the pressure of rising costs, and they feel like they are falling behind,” said Tony Bawidamann, chairman of the New Jersey Organization for a Better State. “These results reflect what we are hearing across the state. Moving forward, it will be important for elected officials to focus on policies that support job growth, address affordability, and ease the burden on working families.”
Residents were also more dissatisfied than satisfied with the state’s handling of the budget and government spending, as well as transportation and infrastructure. Views on health care were more evenly split.
However, respondents expressed more positive views on crime and safety and education. A majority said they were satisfied with how the state is handling those areas, though opinions have shifted slightly in recent months.
“The story here is not just that New Jerseyans are dissatisfied – it is that the dissatisfaction is spreading,” Koning said. “Taxes and affordability have been chronic pain points for years, but healthcare and transportation have now crossed into net negative territory for the first time in our trend data, while education’s gains remain fragile. Government has a shrinking list of areas where it is getting credit from the public.”
The statewide poll surveyed 1,568 adults between March 27 and March 30 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
