NEW YORK – Concern about rising prices has reached a fever pitch as Americans sit down to Memorial Day barbecues across the country. A majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents said that they had changed their purchases from grocery stores to stay within budget in the last several months, according to polling from CNN.
Another 59 per cent of Americans said they had cut back on extras and entertainment.
More than three quarters of Americans, including 55 per cent of Republicans, said President Donald Trump’s policies had increased the cost of living in their community.
Survey after survey has found that Americans are feeling growing financial uncertainty. Nearly half of all voters gave the economy the lowest rating, “poor”, in the latest New York Times/Siena poll, up 11 percentage points since January.
And economic confidence has hit a four-year low, according to Gallup.
Gas prices have continued to soar nationally, rising above US$4.50 (S$5.75 ) a gallon, according to AAA. A gallon is around 3.8 litres.
Nearly 80 per cent of voters – including a majority of Republicans – say the Trump administration is responsible for this price hike, according to polling from Prime Times.
Large majorities also blamed oil companies, the war in Iran and government regulations.
All in all, a solid majority of voters in the Fox poll, 57 per cent, say that Mr Trump’s policies have hurt the country, up from 51 per cent who said the same one year ago. NYTIMES