Americans’ pessimism about the economy is at its highest this year, according to a McClatchy-Marist poll. Of adults surveyed, 68 percent said the economy will get worse, the most since September.

Listen to two everyday Americans tell us how the weak economy is affecting them. Listen here.

Here, 65-year-old Jane Dougall tells us how the market roller-coaster is affecting her retirement:

And we want to hear from you. Tell Marketplace: What do you want to know about the U.S. credit downgrade? And help us tell the story.