I think when people say this, they are referring to short term measurable factors like unemployment (currently 4%), the stock market (S&P 500 earnings at all time high), inflation (currently 3.27%), and generally whether there is a recession or fear of one on the horizon (neither at the moment).
But in terms of longer-term systemic traits like poverty (around 40 million americans for decades), housing shortage (short by 6 million homes), health care costs (premiums avg about $450/mo for a 30 year old), etc I suspect people who currently profit from the system largely work to prevent these kinds of things from being fixed, which they otherwise could be.