Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber released findings from its latest statewide poll of 600 registered Michigan voters in partnership with the Glengariff Group, Inc. The poll was conducted between Sept. 10-14, 2025.
Michigan voters’ concerns about the cost of goods, the job market, the impact of tariffs and global trade policy, and the potential role AI will play in the future economy, in particular, signal that economic conditions aren’t improving, and voters are noticing.
“There are warning signs throughout this poll that don’t bode well for business or Michigan’s economic outlook or competitiveness. Voters’ concerns appear to be catching up with the realities that Michigan is at a disproportionate economic risk due to much of what is occurring in the global economy, as many Michiganders’ livelihoods are tied to the automotive and manufacturing industry and trade with Canada. Michiganders are clearly becoming increasingly unsettled – across all political affiliations.”
– Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber
“Michigan voters are sending up clear red flags in how they view the current economy. The vast majority of Michiganders say they are paying more for groceries, utilities, and insurance. They believe tariffs are increasing their costs, hurting the state’s auto industry, and that placing tariffs on Canada hurts Michigan. And all of that is resulting in a decline in the number of good jobs Michiganders think are available.”
– Richard Czuba, President, The Glengariff Group, Inc.
Voters remain split on Michigan’s economic direction, influenced by political affiliation. 42.4% of Michigan voters say the state’s economy is on the right track, and 42.8% say it is on the wrong track. Political affiliation still appears to be an influence on these ratings as more stro9ng Republicans now consider it to be on the right track – 36.6% compared to just 13.2% in September 2024, before a Republican president took office.
Views on whether the state is on the right track in general are up 6% to 51.5% after a slight dip in the May 2025 poll. Strong Republicans and Independents are largely driving this increase, up 20.9% to 34% and 44.7% to 52.3%, from May 2025 to September 2025, respectively.
Nearly three-quarters of Michigan voters indicate that they are doing better or the same economically as they were a year ago, statistically consistent with the past few polls. 27.1% say they are doing worse. As of May 2024, during the Biden administration, perceptions of personal economic conditions were more favorable among strong Democrats (41.4%) than strong Republicans (10.1%). This is just one example of how voters’ feelings about the sitting president increasingly influence their feelings about economic conditions. Over the last several polls, the inversion of these sentiments along party lines has become noticeable, especially through the 2024 election cycle and transition to the second Trump administration.
Inflation continues to be a top reason for economic concerns. For the 42.8% of voters who think the state’s economy is on the wrong track, the top-cited reasons were inflation and the cost of goods, the lack of good jobs or unemployment, and low wages.
Similarly, among those who report doing worse economically than last year (27.1% of respondents), 55.2% cite inflation and the cost of goods as the reason. That is up a noteworthy 13.4% from the 41.8% who shared that sentiment in May 2025.
Fears of worsening inflation remain high at 43.1%, and more Michigan voters see the economy as weakening versus growing by a margin of 58.7% to 38.2%. Interestingly, the percentage of Independent voters who consider the economy to be growing increased from 25.4% in May 2025 to 43.2% in September 2025. However, half of Independent voters expect inflation to get worse in the next year, which contrasts with their optimism about economic growth.
As poll results continue to show, Independent voters’ perceptions are important indicators as they differ from those of voters who identify as a strong Republican or a strong Democrat.
Rising costs are taking a toll and impacting spending decisions. Three-quarters of Michigan voters are paying more for groceries and food compared to last year. Every individual demographic group says they are spending more on groceries by a minimum of 63.4%. Additionally:
Nearly 30% of voters have delayed purchases this year, up from 20.9% in May 2025, another indicator of economic anxiety among respondents. The top five categories for delayed purchases are:
14.3% have sped up purchases, consistent with May 2025 findings. Decisions to speed up purchases were driven by concerns about, and in anticipation of, tariff-related cost increases. As new tariffs are implemented, however, these purchase pull-ahead rates may shift instead to cost-related delays.
For the first time in many surveys, Michigan voters’ confidence in their employment and the job market is slowing.
Employment concerns are noticeably higher among automotive households.
While nearly three-quarters of voters continue to share that they are doing better or the same economically as they were a year ago, the share of those who are doing worse due to inflation and the cost of goods continues to increase. More consumers are expressing concerns with higher grocery, housing, and utility costs, as well as dwindling confidence in employment. This will likely manifest as economic pessimism and decreased consumer spending.
In recent years, the state has benefited from stable employment, with a strong unemployment rate that was on par with the national rates. This dynamic is changing. In recent months, Michigan’s unemployment rate has been consistently above the national rate by roughly a full percentage point.
Job security concerns in the automotive industry, especially, are alarming as it adds another challenge to an industry already burdened by the broader economic uncertainty caused by fluctuating trade policies.
Reinforcing the state’s talent pipeline is more important than ever, as the Chamber’s MichAuto program continues to express, especially in Michigan’s signature automotive and mobility industry. Robust education, training, and upskilling practices are essential to ensure the state has enough workers with the right skills and knowledge to support the jobs of the future.
Beyond the automotive and mobility industry, the Chamber has invested in creating a stronger talent pipeline through TalentEd, one of the most robust education and talent initiatives in the state. The initiative is rooted in the Chamber’s goal to achieve 60% post-high school educational attainment by 2030, a goal since adopted by the State of Michigan. This work is also informed by a CEO Talent Council, demonstrating the regional business community’s commitment to improving educational opportunities and outcomes.
This kind of workforce and economic development is a critical and, unfortunately, more challenging imperative following the passage of the fiscal year 2025-26 state budget. It decouples Michigan’s corporate income tax from federal tax reforms in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that are aimed at encouraging domestic innovation and investment, meaning Michigan businesses would be excluded from the tax relief the federal reforms would provide. This results in a significant tax hike – $2 billion over five years – on businesses, making it more expensive to invest in Michigan compared to other states.
Further, funding cuts to business attraction and workforce development initiatives like the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve fund and Going PRO diminish Michigan’s standing among national and global competitors and project a lack of commitment to strategic, long-term economic development.
Anticipated tariff-related price increases are hitting consumers. Michigan voters’ opposition to increased tariffs continues by a margin of 51.3% opposed to 40.8% in support. While political affiliation plays a role in sentiments about tariffs, opposition is holding steady, although strong support has weakened from 30.3% in May 2025 to 23.4%.
Among Independent voters, the field was split in May 2025 at 48.6%-50.9% but has now shifted toward “opposed” by a margin of 39.6%-46.8%. Opposition to tariffs among automotive households increased slightly from 46.4% in May 2025 to 50.7%.
Unfortunately, the financial strain voters are feeling with inflation and rising costs is compounded by tariffs. 71.5% of voters say they are paying more for goods due to tariffs. Interestingly, even among voters who strongly support tariffs, 40.8% say they are paying more for goods. Tariff-related costs have even led to 28.1% of voters having to delay a purchase like a vehicle, home improvement, or vacation this year, up from 20.9% in May 2025.
Michigan voters recognize the importance of strong trade relationships. Voters also appear to be aware of the broader economic impacts of tariffs and the significance of key international trade relationships. This is a sentiment largely shared across political affiliation, which is noteworthy in a time of stark party loyalty on most issues. In fact, every party affiliation views Canada as an economic “friend” by a margin of 70.2% or higher.
Michigan voters also think – by a nearly three-to-one margin – that placing tariffs on Canada is bad for the state’s economy, with 57.2% saying they are bad, 19.2% saying they are good, and 12.7% saying it has no impact.
Learn more about the economic impact of Michigan’s trade relationship with Canada.
Michigan and its automotive industry continue to bear disproportionate impacts and risks associated with tariffs. 60.3% of Michigan voters say tariffs are hurting the automotive industry. This increases to 66.2% among households with someone employed in the automotive industry. Similarly, nearly 50% of voters say profit-sharing checks would decrease this year due to tariffs. Again, this rate is higher among automotive households, with 59.2% of those respondents saying they will decrease, and 32.4% say they will “decrease a lot.”
The Chamber and automotive industry leaders have expressed concerns from the start of what has been an inconsistent – and often confusing – tariff policy implementation. While the intention of reshoring or onshoring manufacturing jobs to the U.S. is an economic priority, the uncertainty present throughout this process is impacting businesses’ ability to plan and commit to investments. This includes Michigan’s hometown automotive manufacturers and suppliers who simultaneously need to deliver products based on today’s consumer sentiments while making years-long, multi-billion-dollar investments to develop and produce what consumers will want in the future.
Automotive News reported this summer that the potential profit-sharing impacts among Detroit automakers, citing tariff-related profit hits, may result in the smallest average payout for these automakers since at least 2015.
In an industry that houses some of the most complex supply chains in the world and often requires years-long lead times to execute, frequent fluctuations have created disruptions that only compound the existing challenges of rapid technological evolution and intense global competition. These policies continue to disproportionately affect Michigan’s economy, which is highly dependent on its core manufacturing industry, and is making its way into consumers’ day-to-day economic experiences.
Strategic trade policies should support and grow the automotive and mobility industry – not compromise it. With MichAuto, the Chamber will continue to advocate for policies that enhance critical global partnerships and prioritize domestic economic growth. Learn more about how.
Age, educational attainment, and income influence AI use. Among Michigan voters:
AI use trends higher among those under 50 years old, with college educations, and those in white-collar careers and earning higher incomes. Republican, older, lower-income, and blue-collar voters appear less likely to be using AI.
Differing usage and misconceptions create confusion around AI’s economic impacts. Michigan voters’ responses on how AI may impact the state’s economy reveal some concerning disconnects. 40% of Michigan voters do not think AI will have an impact on the state’s prosperity, but 61% think AI means fewer jobs for Michigan. While rates of AI use are higher among voters under 50, some voters in that demographic are among the most concerned about AI as a threat to jobs in the state. The findings demonstrate a lack of universally understood impacts – positive or negative – that AI could have on the state’s economy.
The lack of understanding of AI, as well as its capabilities and risks, will be a challenge for the state’s economy. Establishing a fundamental understanding of this technology is critical to ensure Michigan businesses stay competitive and employees know how to harness its power strategically and safely. Whether or not individuals are interested in learning about and adopting it, it is the direction the world and global economy are headed, and businesses and regions that do not embrace and integrate AI will fall behind.
Previous Chamber polling has indicated how political affiliation can impact voters’ receptiveness to innovation and new technologies. The politicization of innovation is dangerous for Michigan’s global competitiveness as other states and countries productively adopt new technologies and keep pace with developments to strengthen their economic outputs and leadership.
This data shows that not enough people are paying close enough attention to AI, therefore not understanding its capabilities or potential impact on the state’s economy. Without clear, fact-based education on the topic and commitment from the public to receive and implement it, this could be another measure by which Michigan will fall short among competitors.