Nearly 70% of Americans think the economy is on the ‘wrong track’ and even more think it’s a bad time to buy a home, Fannie Mae survey shows

Economic Sentiment - A growing sense of economic pessimism is evident in the U.S., with nearly 70% of Americans believing the economy is headed in the wrong direction [1] - According to Fannie Mae's September 2025 Home Purchase Sentiment Index, only 32% of respondents feel the economy is on the "right track," while 67% believe it is on the "wrong track," a slight increase from 64% in August [2] - The majority of consumers express pessimism about their personal finances, with only 32% expecting improvement over the next year and 23% anticipating deterioration [3] Housing Market Outlook - The sentiment regarding home buying is particularly negative, with only 27% of respondents considering it a good time to buy a home, while 73% think it is a bad time [5] - The net share of respondents viewing buying conditions as favorable has decreased to negative 46%, a level that has persisted since summer [5] - High mortgage rates and home prices are significant factors affecting homebuyers' attitudes, with mortgage rates peaking at 8% and currently remaining near 6% [6]