Click to enlarge.
During January 2025, 70% of voters said that “inflation or costs of goods” were getting worse for people like them. One year later, that figure has remained largely unchanged, with 74% of voters now saying that inflation is getting worse, according to the latest polling this week by Data for Progress (DFP).*
“Despite Trump’s campaign promises, voters’ perceptions of the economy have not improved since he took office. But in a warning sign for Democrats, voters are still largely split over which party has solutions to lower the cost of living,” said DFP.
“However, despite voters’ continued dissatisfaction with economic conditions, polling indicates that Democrats have not yet been able to fully capitalize on the national mood. Only 33% of voters say they have heard Democrats talk more about affordability than Republicans, including just 26% of Independents,” said DFP.
Quick Summary
- 25% of voters say they have heard Republicans talk about affordability more, while 20% say they have heard about equally from both parties and 19% say they’ve heard from neither.
- Neither the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, nor Trump have been able to convince voters that they can lower costs. Less than 4 in 10 voters think that Trump (37%), the Democratic Party (36%), and the Republican Party (34%) have a solution for the cost of living, with only 28% of Independent voters responding that Democrats have a solution.
- The poll also indicates that voters would be receptive to messages focused on the cost of living, specifically regarding grocery prices and housing.
- When asked whether they would prefer to see costs lowered or their incomes increased, 70% of voters say they would prefer to see costs lowered.
“With just 10 months to go until the November midterms, affordability and the cost of living continue to be a top concern for voters. But while Democrats hope to make the upcoming elections a referendum on Trump’s economy, polling shows that the Democratic Party still has more to do to show voters they have a plan to lower costs,” said DFP.
Survey Methodology
From January 10 to 12, 2026, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1124 U.S. likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography, and recalled presidential vote. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error associated with the sample size is ±3 percentage points. Results for subgroups of the sample are subject to increased margins of error. Partisanship reflected in tabulations is based on self-identified party affiliation, not partisan registration. More information at dataforprogress.org/our-methodology.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Pessimism on the Economy – A Pox on Both Parties
Click to enlarge.
During January 2025, 70% of voters said that “inflation or costs of goods” were getting worse for people like them. One year later, that figure has remained largely unchanged, with 74% of voters now saying that inflation is getting worse, according to the latest polling this week by Data for Progress (DFP).*
“Despite Trump’s campaign promises, voters’ perceptions of the economy have not improved since he took office. But in a warning sign for Democrats, voters are still largely split over which party has solutions to lower the cost of living,” said DFP.
“However, despite voters’ continued dissatisfaction with economic conditions, polling indicates that Democrats have not yet been able to fully capitalize on the national mood. Only 33% of voters say they have heard Democrats talk more about affordability than Republicans, including just 26% of Independents,” said DFP.
Quick Summary
“With just 10 months to go until the November midterms, affordability and the cost of living continue to be a top concern for voters. But while Democrats hope to make the upcoming elections a referendum on Trump’s economy, polling shows that the Democratic Party still has more to do to show voters they have a plan to lower costs,” said DFP.
Survey Methodology
From January 10 to 12, 2026, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1124 U.S. likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography, and recalled presidential vote. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error associated with the sample size is ±3 percentage points. Results for subgroups of the sample are subject to increased margins of error. Partisanship reflected in tabulations is based on self-identified party affiliation, not partisan registration. More information at dataforprogress.org/our-methodology.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.