You thought Americans were bummed out? The British are among the most pessimistic in the world, according to a ranking of surveys across 139 countries from Gallup out Friday.
Why it matters: The low number speaks to the "depth of the economic malaise in the U.K.," writes Benedict Vigers, Gallup's senior global news writer.
By the numbers: Just 21% of those surveyed in the U.K. last year said their local economy is "getting better" — only Lebanon, Bolivia and Turkey had meaningfully lower numbers.
In the U.S., 47% of respondents said their local economy was getting better — slightly more than the global median of 42%.
What to watch: U.K. economic growth is expected to be the hardest hit of any advanced economy by the Iran war's energy shock, per the IMF.
And the country is heading into its first major local elections since Labour came to power in 2024.
These kinds of vibes are tough for an incumbent party, and Labour is projected to take a big hit.