Two in Five Americans View Stock Market as Elite Tool

Two in five Americans believe the stock market primarily serves the top 1% and is not accessible to them, according to a new Harris Poll conducted exclusively for The Guardian. The survey, which polled 2,154 US adults online between July 9-11, 2026, also found significant misunderstandings about the economy and its relationship with the stock market. Nearly 40% of respondents did not recognize that the economy and the stock market are distinct entities. Furthermore, two-thirds of Americans incorrectly assumed that a growing stock market automatically signifies overall economic growth. Among the 1,667 respondents who reported some level of investing, these misconceptions about the stock market's function and its connection to the wider economy were prevalent. The poll highlights a perception gap regarding financial markets and their perceived beneficiaries within the American population. This sentiment suggests a widespread belief that the benefits of market performance are concentrated among a small, wealthy elite, rather than being broadly distributed.