Pew Research Center, October, 2022, “Midterm Voting Intentions Are Divided, Economic Gloom Persists"
The survey finds that inflation remains the dominant economic concern for Americans. In fact, the three top concerns, among seven items included, relate to prices – for food and consumer goods (73% are very concerned about this), gasoline and energy (69%) and the cost of housing (60%).
Far fewer express a high degree of concern about product shortages, employers being unable to find workers, the stock market’s performance or a shortage of jobs for people who want to work. The public’s economic concerns have shown little movement since the summer.
Concerns over prices are widely shared across demographic groups and income categories. And while Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are less likely than Republicans and Republican leaners to be highly concerned about prices for food and consumer goods, sizable majorities of both Democrats (66%) and Republicans (81%) say they are very concerned.