To me, a big part of the issue goes back to 2008 when Bush almost destroyed the economy and enabled Corporations to take over the Residential Housing Market (via low interest rates and foreclosure).

Now these companies make people pay most of their income for rents, thus giving them the illusion the economy is bad.

It is simple, people judge the economy on the amount of disposable income they have. Sadly the pols do not understand that.

BTW, I noticed your '/s', but seems many people missed it.