With the combination of the longest government shutdown, the mass firings of government workers and a fresh cut in federal food aid, the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington is bracing for the swell of people who will need its help before the holiday season.

The shape of economic growth this year highlights the widening gap between wealthy Americans and everyone else, economists say.

Trump's argument that he's making ordinary household necessities more affordable has failed to take hold, the exit survey suggested. NBC News exit polls showed that most voters in Tuesday's elections said they were either holding steady or "falling behind" in their personal finances.

A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found 59% of respondents viewed Trump’s job performance negatively, but on the key issue of the economy that number rose to 62%. It increased to 63% on how the president is managing the federal government.

The US government shutdown has become the longest in history, and with no sign of a resolution soon its economic toll is deepening. Now in its 36th day, the shutdown has surpassed the previous record set in early 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Back then, about two-thirds of voters said the economy was in bad shape, according to the results of the ABC News exit poll. Forty-seven percent of voters said their own financial situation was worse than it had been four years earlier, which exceeded the share who held that view in the immediate wake of the Great Recession in 2008.

Economic worries were the dominant concern as voters cast ballots for Tuesday’s elections, according to preliminary findings from the AP Voter Poll.

The large services side of the U.S. economy grew in October at the fastest pace in eight months with the help of lower interest rates, but businesses expressed lingering worries over high tariffs and said the government shutdown could also cause pain if it drags on.

Casual dining restaurants such as Chili's and Olive Garden are benefiting from consumers' evolving perception of value in a tough job market.

Politicians have expressed concerns about proposed cuts to the government's environment department. The Environment, Housing, and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel said the impact of the proposals from Jersey government's budget came at a time of growing regulatory needs, including a move to address food labelling and allergies.