Biden's State of the Union touted economic success, but are Americans better off?

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Biden's State of the Union touts strong economy, but are Americans better off?

Americans from across the country say whether their financial situation has improved, stayed the same, or gotten worse since Joe Biden has taken office.

President Biden touted his economic accomplishments during his State of the Union address, but Americans across the country shared divided views on how their finances have fared two years into his term.

"If I didn't work in a restaurant, I don't think I'd be able to afford to eat," Romello, a Washington state resident, told Fox News. "I'm dipping into my savings now."

The cost of living is "crazy expensive" and rent is "mind-blowing," he said. 

But Michael, of Nashville, said his financial situation has improved.

"I make more money than I did three years ago," he said. 

AMERICANS SHARE HOW THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION HAS CHANGED UNDER BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY:

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A recent Fox News poll reported that 61% of registered voters disapproved of Biden's handling of the economy. Additionally, 45% of respondents said economic conditions are "poor" while 35% answered "only fair."

"We’re building an economy where no one's left behind," Biden said Tuesday during his State of the Union address. "Jobs are coming back, pride is coming back because of the choices we made in the last several years."

Laura of Bellingham, Washington, doesn't feel she's in a better position than before Biden took office.

"Definitely worse off, but I still sit in a role of privilege," she told Fox News. "So I'm fortunate enough to have weathered the storm without it being fully damaging to my family." 

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Laura said she is worse off financially under President Biden. (Fox News Digital / Hannah Ray Lambert)

But Rich, a D.C. resident, said: "If you look at it closely, the jobs are way up, inflation is down, corporate earnings are way up, wages are up." 

"So, yes, all in all, I think the economy is doing better, although most people apparently do not think so," he continued.

U.S. employers added 517,000 jobs in January, and the unemployment rate dropped to 3.4% — the lowest since 1969, according to the Department of Labor. But some economists warned that labor participation rates are still below pre-pandemic levels, though others say the report shows promise for sectors hit hard by the pandemic.

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Joe Biden speaks about the progress of the administration's economic agenda. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, some Americans told Fox News they're preparing for harder times ahead.

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"I'm being a little bit smarter and more frugal," Pola, of Austin, said. "Especially for somebody like me in the service industry, you definitely have a little bit tougher of a time making your money."

And a Nashville man said: "Things are more expensive, and I think it's just digging us into a deeper hole."

To watch the full responses, click here. 

Hannah Ray Lambert reported from Bellingham, Washington; Megan Myers from Washington, D.C.; Gabrielle Reyes from Austin; and Teny Sahakian from Nashville.