For almost a year, President Donald Trump has been urging voters not to be alarmed by increasing prices. He has dismissed concerns about affordability as a tactic by Democrats, claimed consumer prices had decreased during his tenure when they had actually risen, and repeatedly stated that gas and diesel costs, which surged after the conflict with Iran, would soon decline.
Various polls indicate that voters are not convinced by Trump’s assertions, giving him poor ratings on the cost of living. Recent polls show that over 70% of American respondents disapprove of Trump’s management of inflation, according to data compiled by Silver Bulletin from public polling.
The latest inflation figures are unlikely to bode well for Trump and the Republican Party as they seek to retain control of the U.S. Congress in the upcoming midterm elections on November 3. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that the consumer price index rose by 3.7% in September compared to the previous year, primarily due to increases in fuel and clothing prices.
Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling Center in Boston, highlights that polling reveals the economy is the primary concern for voters across the U.S. leading up to the midterms. Kimball notes that the focus is on the cost of living, rather than employment or taxes, driving these economic worries.
Kimball emphasizes that everyday expenses are accumulating, causing concern among individuals about their ability to afford them. He believes that finding a quick solution to rising gas prices and other living costs within the next three weeks seems improbable.
Trump’s recent travels across the U.S. to boost Republican Senate seat prospects demonstrate the political impact of these economic challenges. Trump visited states like Alaska, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas, which he won by large margins in the 2024 presidential election, in a bid to support Republican candidates facing unexpected challenges in the midterms due to cost of living issues.
Polling analyst Tim Malloy from Quinnipiac University Poll in Hamden, Conn., characterizes Trump’s travels as a desperate attempt to support endangered Republican candidates. Malloy points out that gas prices are the primary concern among voters, with many holding Trump responsible for the situation due to unmet promises.
Residents in Martinsburg, W.Va., a predominantly Republican area, expressed struggles with rising prices, affecting their daily lives. Individuals like Christalyn Levy, a local thrift store cashier, mentioned relying on food pantries due to the difficulty of affording groceries after paying rent.
Juliana Kaiser, another resident, shared how she has adjusted her lifestyle by baking bread and minimizing driving to cut costs. She emphasized that the increasing prices will influence her voting decisions in the upcoming midterms.