The majority of Mainers report that their financial situation is worse now compared to a year ago, according to a new Pine Tree State Poll, a States of Opinion Project from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.
35 percent of respondents said that things have remained the same for them over the past twelve months, while just 9 percent said that their household finances have improved.
This represents a reversal of where Mainers were around the beginning of 2025 and is an exacerbation of the trend that has been taking shape ever since.
Despite these changes, however, the share of respondents who feel that their financial situation has improved has remained the smallest, fluctuating within the same ten-point range.
Nearly half of Mainers are quite pessimistic about their financial future, as 49 percent said that they expect their finances to worsen over the next year.
27 percent said that they expect things to be the same, while just 23 percent were optimistic that their situation would improve.
Over the past few months, pessimism has been steadily on the rise as optimism dropped off sharply.
Respondents were also asked to explain the reasoning behind their financial expectations for the coming year.
Those who predicted that their financial situation would worsen overwhelmingly cited higher prices or increasing inflation, as well as a belief that the president or government will “handle the economy poorly.”
Those with a more optimistic outlook were less united in the reasoning for their position.
That said, the dominant reasons cited were all nearly the direct opposite of those identified by those with a darker outlook.
40 percent said that they believe the president or government will handle the economy well, while 37 percent expect a “generally good economy” and 30 percent said they expect lower prices or declining inflation.
When broken down by political affiliation, Republicans were more positive about their current financial situation and more optimistic about their financial future compared to both Democrats and Independents.
While just over 60 percent of Democrats and Independents said that they are worse off compared to a year ago, the same was true for just 45 percent of Republicans.
This gap widens even further when it comes to Mainers’ evaluations of their expected financial situation in the coming year.
Democrats are the most pessimistic about their expected financial circumstances, with 71 percent indicating that they feel they will be worse off in a year’s time. Just 3 percent predict their situation improving.
Half of Independents believe that they will be in a worse position next year, but 22 percent predict they will be better off.
Republicans are the most optimistic about the next twelve months, with just 20 percent saying that they think they will be worse off in a year’s time.
51 percent said they will be in a better position next year, while 29 percent said they think things will be about the same. Just 20 percent expect to be worse off.
I have been robed by the left leaning politician’s. taxing me higher and higher each year to pay for illegals the democratic joe biden and his supporters let in maine. I have been rapied by the elected officals!!!
When Maine legislators passed there bill to raise the living wage and at least every other year, there after to $20.00 or more an hour is certainly not helping anyone.
What those have done that pushed this bill to increase the living wage automatically raised the prices of goods on everything. What they don’t want to understand when they do this way before inflation is under control someone has to pay for the living wage. Inflation will never be under control.
Take a dollar hamburger at Wendy’s or McDonalds is no longer a dollar. Because when the living wage is raised it automatically raises the price of that hamburger for to someone to cook it. Or to stock the shelves at a grocery store the employee has to be paid a living wage after stocking those shelves.
No business can survive by paying someone a higher wage without raising the price of goods.
Thats what keeps all prices increasing by paying for the labor to fulfill those same hours for the same tasks.. it’s called severely cutting into any profit.
Then to be heavily taxed to death on top of that creates a death spiral for everyone.
Most democrats in Augusta do not work in the private sector. They have no idea how a business works. When it comes time for an increase in their budget they just take it from the producers and give it to their NGO;s, etc.
They view business as greedy who just screws their employees. Don’t think so listen to Platner, Bernie, Mamdani, AOC, Pingree, …
Democrats math skills are Fuzzy Math!!
1for you 3 for democrats 2 for you 25 for democrats!
It’s the only way they know how to count!
Who knew only 44% of Mainers were getting a Gov. kiss each month?
Trump hasn’t been a big help either. Between tariffs, and expensive ball rooms, and new forever wars, I’m barely making ends meet, when only last year I was doing well…..and btw….ALL the migrants are STILL here.
If you spend all your time thinking you’ll be worse off next year you probably will be .
Happiness and success are a state of mind folks .
Stop whining , put down the pot, put on some clean clothes , brush your hair , and go to work .
If you don’t earn it , people like me ain’t gonna be giving it to you .
Wake TF up Maine . Wake TF up !
Worthless surveys…over 1/2 of Mainers are on some welfare program or assistance, not working, likely democrats….and they will likely say they are worse off…wanting increase in “freebies”. How about a survey that IDs working people and those on taxpayer funded programs and also IDs, by political party too! It would be very telling.
I, personally, do not respond to any telephone or “online” surveys. All are too politically biased…just my opinion.
Thank you, Janet Mills!
The high cost of electricity is a direct result of Democrats taking our money to subsidize solar farms!
Time to vote people!! Get off the couch Republicans! We can’t afford anymore democrats in power.
Time to get off the couch Republicans.! Get out and VOTE VOTE VOTE!! No more Democrat leaders.