Americans continue to feel economic pressure with inflation remaining top issue

Washington, DC, November 1, 2022 — A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll fielded in mid to late October finds that inflation and the economy are top of mind for Americans with the midterm elections now only a week away. Nearly half of Americans say that inflation or the economy will most influence their vote in the upcoming November elections.

Survey findings indicate that abortion and police funding could be unifiers, with most Americans expressing support for abortion rights and increased police funding. At the same time, race, sexuality, and gender identity continue to divide Americans. Lastly, Americans express trust in their local election officials while remaining concerned about voter fraud and political violence on and after election day.

Detailed Findings

1. Americans continue to feel economic pressure with nearly half viewing rising costs or the economy as the top issues for the United States.

• Thirty-one percent of Americans view inflation/rising costs as the most important problem facing the United States, followed by the economy (15%).
• Seventy-five percent say they are more concerned about prices continuing to rise than they are the possibility of them or their partner losing their job (11%).
• Two in five say their personal financial situation is weaker now than it was a year ago, with similar proportions saying they have enacted cost saving practices such as switching to cheaper brands/stores for food (44%) or for clothes and other basic goods (35%).
• One-third of Americans say that the rise in the price of goods and services are caused by supply chain/economic issues, with 30% saying that spending by the federal government is the root cause of price increases.
• Three in ten say that inflation/rising prices will most influence their choice in political candidate in the upcoming midterm elections. Republicans (40%) are most likely to say this, followed by 28% of independents and 21% of Democrats.

2. Americans are more divided on issues related to race, sexuality, and gender identity than on abortion or police funding.

• Three in five Americans say they would be less likely to support a candidate who supports laws that ban or severely restrict abortion access (63%).
• Three-quarters of Americans say they would be more likely to support a candidate who supports increasing police funding to fight crime (74%). This includes88% of Republicans, 71% of independents, and 68% of Democrats.
• A slight majority of Americans (54%) would be less likely to support a candidate who supports laws that prevent teachers from discussing systemic racism. Meanwhile, half of Americans would be more likely to support a candidate who supports laws that prevent teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity at school (51%).
• Regarding gender affirming medical treatment for children under the age of 18, Americans are equally divided with 50% saying they would be more likely to support a candidate who supports preventing medical treatment for transgender children under the age of 18 related to gender identity and 50% saying they would be less likely to support a candidate who shares that position.

3. Most Americans view elections as secure, while also worried about the possibility of political violence during and after the midterm elections.

• Two-thirds of Americans (67%) are confident that their vote will be counted accurately. Democrats (85%) are most likely to feel this way, while Republicans (66%) and independents (52%) are less likely to agree.
• Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) trust their local election officials to do their job honestly, with one-quarter (24%) saying they do not agree.
• However, half of Americans (49%) view voter fraud as a widespread problem and 44% of Americans are concerned that the upcoming election is rigged.
• Over two in five (42%) are concerned about the threats of political violence while nearly two-thirds (64%) are concerned about extremists committing political violence after the election if they are unhappy with the election outcome.