New Poll Indicates Inflation is Americans' Top Concern

According to the latest Economist/YouGov Poll, inflation has consistently been the leading issue for Americans, and its significance has reached a new peak. Currently, 37% of respondents identify inflation/prices as their primary concern, marking the highest percentage since the option was introduced in July 2022. This figure is an increase from 32% in the previous week’s poll and up from an average of 29% in 2026.

Nearly half of Americans, or 47%, perceive the economy as being in poor condition, matching the highest level since September 2023. Economic issues appear to be a weak point for Donald Trump. Since tracking began in June, the poll shows inflation/prices received the lowest approval ratings for Trump's handling, with only 26% of Americans expressing approval and 69% disapproving, resulting in a net approval rating of -43. His net approval for the overall economy is similarly low at -36, followed by government spending at -34.

Overall, Trump's job approval stands at 35% with 60% disapproving, equating to a net of -25, and his economic approval is 10 points lower. This represents a significant shift from his first term; during the same timeframe in 2018, Trump's net approval for the economy was +9, while his overall net approval was -10, creating a 19-point gap in favor of economic approval.

Among Democrats, Trump's net approval on the economy is currently at -92, while it sits at -55 among Independents and +36 among Republicans. Within the Republican Party, views are sharply divided. MAGA Republicans overwhelmingly approve of Trump’s economic handling at 83% to 15%. In contrast, non-MAGA Republicans are largely disapproving, at 60% to 34%. On issues of inflation/prices, MAGA Republicans show an approval rating of 68% to 27%, while non-MAGA Republicans disapprove by 66% to 32%.

Furthermore, perceptions of the economy's trend reveal that 49% of non-MAGA Republicans believe it is worsening, compared to 20% of MAGA Republicans. A significant portion of non-MAGA Republicans, 49%, also prioritize inflation/prices as their most important issue, contrasted with only 31% of MAGA Republicans.