LOL, ok there's a few factors at play here.
1: most Americans don't even understand what the economy IS. when you ask them about the economy, they're going to answer w/r/t their personal finances. which, for most Americans, suck.
2: stop looking at the stock market. the stock market has zero to do with how people are faring economically. most Americans don't even own stock.
US: capitalism sucks
NYT: you silly zoomers with your tick-tocks, the economy is doing great! your negative memes are fucking up the vibe!
what, to keep Americans in? because nobody's going to make it all the way to Canada just to turn around and try to sneak into this hellhole.