Americans grow more negative about economy: Gallup

Americans are growing more pessimistic about the state of the U.S. economy, according to a new survey.

The Gallup poll, released Thursday, found that nearly half of the respondents, 47 percent, rated the economic conditions in the country as “poor.” This marks a 10-point increase since January and a tie with polling results from the end of last year.

Additionally, nearly 75 percent said the economy in the U.S. is “getting worse” while 21 percent said the opposite.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict in Iran has driven up global energy costs. The strait is critical for the oil trade industry, and a pileup in fuel-carrying ships has sent the price of crude oil skyrocketing. 

International benchmark Brent crude oil was trading at nearly $103 a barrel on Thursday morning, down from a high of $118 at the end of March. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate was trading around $94 a barrel. 

Gas prices in the U.S. have also been impacted, with the average cost of a standard gas sitting just over $4 a gallon on Thursday morning, according to AAA. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)........

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