Rising costs top concern for Americans: poll

Rising costs due to inflation have become a top concern among Americans, a new Monmouth University poll found. 

The poll found that 15 percent of respondents currently see everyday bills such as groceries as the top concern in the country, while 14 percent see inflation as the top concern.

Concerns about everyday bills and inflation combined topped all other issues among polled voters, including COVID-19, which 18 percent see as the biggest concern for their family. 

“Concerns about inflation have taken center stage in discussions around America’s kitchen tables. And, as one would expect, many are placing the blame squarely on Washington,” Patrick Murray, the director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said.

Rising prices have overshadowed the country’s economic rebound from the pandemic, with Democrats struggling to highlight the recovery as midterms approach.

“It’s a fine message for our Republican opponents, especially with something like gas prices or food prices where people feel it in the pocketbook,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) told The Hill on Thursday.

“My best hope is that those pressures will have abated significantly by the late spring. I don’t think if they abate by October it will be in time,” Beyer said.

In addition to those expressing concern about inflation and high costs, 46 percent of respondents to the poll said whatever they named as their top issue has been negatively impacted by the federal government in the past few months. 

That is the highest degree of blame voters have placed on the federal government regarding their top concern since former President Obama’s administration, according to Monmouth University.

A recent poll from The Wall Street Journal showed that 44 percent of voters surveyed would vote for a Republican if the 2022 elections happened today, compared to 41 percent who would vote for a Democrat. 

The Monmouth University poll was conducted on 808 adults from Dec. 2 to Dec. 6. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.