The share of Americans saying the economy is getting worse climbed from 63 percent in September to 68 percent in October, Gallup reported Wednesday.

This was not a case of partisan politics. Democrats and Republican views of the economy were essentially unchanged in October, according to Gallup. What happened was the percentage of independents who say economic conditions are getting worse soared nine points from 63 percent to 72 percent.

The Economic Confidence Index fell to negative 25 in October, the lowest reading since negative 33 in April 2020 and negative 28 the following month. Gallup’s index has a theoretical high score of +100, if everyone says the economy is excellent or good, and a possible low score of -100, if everyone says the economy is poor and getting worse.