Why America is deeply, uniformly unhappy
A recent analysis reveals a significant decline in happiness across all demographics in the U.S. since 2020. The University of Chicago's findings indicate that consumer sentiment has reached its lowest levels in decades, exacerbated by economic pressures and a negative media environment. This shift in national sentiment reflects a broader trend of dissatisfaction that has affected both rich and poor alike.
- ▪Self-reported happiness in the U.S. has dropped by 10 to 15 percentage points across all demographics since 2020.
- ▪Consumer prices rose 25% between 2020 and 2025, contributing to economic distress.
- ▪The World Happiness Report ranked the U.S. at its lowest position ever, highlighting a significant decline in national sentiment.
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Why America is deeply, uniformly unhappy Ellsworth Toohey 10:34 am Tue Apr 28, 2026 Krakenimages.com/shutterstock.com The happiness crash that started in 2020 didn't spare any particular group. University of Chicago economist Sam Peltzman analyzed self-reported happiness data and found the decline cut 10 to 15 percentage points across every demographic he examined — every age group, every income level, every ideology, every gender. Rich and poor fell equally, according to Derek Thompson at derekthompson.org. Peltzman's 2026 paper uses the phrase "regime change in national sentiment" for what happened after COVID, adding that the U.S. "was a reasonably happy country for a long time.
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