Most Americans say the US economy has at the least fallen into recession.

Seven in 10 Americans now believe the US economy is in either a recession (40 per cent) or a depression (30 per cent), according to the latest Gallup poll.

The combined percentage has increased by 12 percentage points in the past week, and by 15 points since Gallup's first measurement in late March.

As has been the case, the country is divided politically in assessing the state of the economy.

Eighty-five per cent of Democrats say the economy is in either a recession or depression, compared with 68 per cent of independents and 53 per cent of Republicans, Gallup found.

All party groups are more likely now than a week ago to say the economy has gone into a recession or depression. The largest increase, however, is seen among Republicans, jumping from 31 per cent to 53 per cent, the pollster also said.