Most Americans guess prices fell in only a handful of the past 50 years
Core finding
Most Americans think consumer prices have rarely fallen over the past half-century. About three-quarters (78%) say prices dropped in five years or fewer out of the past 50, according to a March 2026 Verasight survey.
That group splits between 45% who put the figure at one to five years and 33% who say prices never fell at all. The rest estimate more: 15% say six to ten years, 4% eleven to twenty, and 4% more than twenty.
Topline distribution
Most Americans guess prices fell in only a handful of the past 50 years.
Prices for common household goods obviously change from year to year. If you had to guess, in the past 50 years, how many years saw prices decrease from the previous year? (In other words, how many years had a negative inflation rate?)
n = 1,000 · Mar 6–16, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Mar 6–16, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Module 2: Economics, Work, & Policy |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044
Prices for common household goods obviously change from year to year. If you had to guess, in the past 50 years, how many years saw prices decrease from the previous year? (In other words, how many years had a negative inflation rate?)
Cite this question
Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.