Latest Winthrop Poll Results on Struggling Economy (05/28/26)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The poll asked S.C. residents about the economy, Confederate monuments, immigration and the arts.
• Distributed online in April and May, the poll has a sample size of 1,434 respondents (weighted) with a margin of error of +/-2.59% at the 95% confidence level.

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - A majority of South Carolina residents rate today's economy as bad with half saying that they are not as well off financially as they were a year ago, according to the latest Winthrop Poll.

Other results from the survey of South Carolinians:

*67% said they find grocery costs as difficult or very difficult to afford.
*Around 59% said they find that health care costs including prescription medication are difficult to pay for, as well as housing costs such as rent and mortgages.
*61% said going out to dinner is unaffordable, while 72% said a week-long vacation is out of their reach.
*97% said, regardless of party, that people born in the U.S. to parents born in the U.S. should be considered U.S. citizens.
*84% said people born in the U.S. to parents who immigrated legally should be considered U.S. citizens. The number dropped when considering those with illegal parents.
*46% of all respondents think having people of many races, ethnic groups and nationalities makes the U.S. a better place.
*31% said Confederate monuments should be left alone, while 34% said a plaque or marker should be added for context or historical interpretation.
*Nearly ¾ of respondents said the arts and culture are important, with many saying that it is important to teach the arts, such as dance, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts and literature, to elementary, middle and high school students.

See full results and commentary here.

Methodology
The Winthrop Poll is sponsored by the Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research at Winthrop University which funds the poll. Distributed online in April and May, the poll has a sample size of 1,434 respondents (weighted) with a margin of error of +/-2.59% at the 95% confidence level. Full methodology is at the bottom of the results page.

For additional information or to set up an interview with Scott Huffmon, contact Judy Longshaw at [email protected] or 803/323-2404 (office) or 803/984-0586 (cell).