Cover Story May 2, 2022
- Editorial Staff
- May 2, 2022
- 3 min read
Poll Shows Majority of Americans Concerned About Inflation
Grocery shopping in Rosemead, California on April 21, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty)
Editorial Staff - May 2, 2022
The recent poll conducted by Washington Post-ABC News had some bleak outlooks on a variety of issues. The worse of course is the economy where Ninety-four percent of Americans are worried about inflation. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican the economy affects everyone. Even the hard-core believers on either side of the aisle.
Forty-four percent of those polled are upset about inflation, while 50% are concerned but not upset, with 6% saying the rising costs do not concern them. Well that 6% must just have money to burn, or maybe they are the Democratic lawmakers in Congress towing the Party line. But the majority of Americans don’t have that luxury.
The issue regarding the economy and the rising cost of living and inflation, in general, is expected to be a major issue in this November’s midterm elections, with skyrocketing prices harming the economic standing of many Americans.
The poll was carried out by telephone from April 24-28 among a random national sample of 1,004 adults. About 75% were reached on cell phones and 25% on landlines. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. No matter how you look at it, the results could very possibly spell disaster for the Democrats in the November midterms later this year.
Here are some of the other results from the poll:
· Only about 28% of respondents approve of how Biden is handling inflation, while 68% disapprove. Some bleak news for the President.
· While 57% disapprove of Biden’s handling of the economy more generally, compared to only 38% who approve. These numbers are particularly worrying for the president, as last year at this time he had a 52% approval rating for the economy. With his performance rating dropping 14% since this time last year.
· Americans trust Republicans to handle the economy and inflation more than they do Democrats by a significant margin, with 50% saying they trust Republicans to do a better job on the economy, while only 36% have faith in the tax and spend Democrats on the issue.
· Respondents had a similar view when asked about inflation, with 50% trusting the GOP to handle rising costs and only 30% having faith that the Democrats can do so.
· A tad bit of good news for the President whose overall approval rating in this one poll actually ticked up, although in my most humble opinion I am having a hard time believing the numbers. Biden’s rating in this category as I mentioned had gone up to a 42% approval rating, which is actually a substantial increase from the 37% he registered in the last survey in February.
· When considering the midterm elections, respondents were evenly split between the major party candidates in their district, with 46% leaning toward Democrats and 45% tilting toward Republicans. Although I personally believe that we may see a dramatic shift in power in Washington come November.
· Biden was also underwater for his handling of the situation involving Russia and Ukraine, with 42% approving and 47% disapproving. This particular situation is unfortunate and volatile. Many might say that the President's hands are somewhat tied in this area. Dealing with what some might say is the instability of Russian President Putin and his blatant threats of nuclear war.
· The president did, however, have positive marks for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with 51% approving and 43% disapproving. Thank God he was left the benefits of fast-tracked vaccines by the previous administration. Otherwise, who knows what this number would have revealed?
We are surely in a bad way and uncertainty looms ahead for all. So, we pray for this great country of ours that seems to be apparently headed in the wrong direction at present. When people have to make a choice between feeding their family or their gas tank things are truly bleak.
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