11 hours ago - Economy
The British are really unhappy
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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.
