Inflation Squeezes Most US Households, Poll Finds

Seventy-nine percent of surveyed voters say inflation caused them severe or moderate hardship, with fuel and grocery costs leading their concerns.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Inflation

Isometric editorial illustration of stacked unlabeled crates and a fuel can rising in a bar-like arrangement in oxblood, teal, and mustard, suggesting household cost pressure. — Seventy-nine percent of surveyed voters say inflation caused them severe or moderate hardship, with fuel and grocery costs leading their concerns, a post-election poll found. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think your household's finances are better or worse than two years ago?

A post-election Voter Poll of more than 79,000 people, conducted by SSRS for a consortium of news companies, found the economy named as the most important issue by 39% of respondents, ahead of the state of democracy at 32% and immigration at 14%. Results were published on election day, November 3, 2026.

Why it matters

The poll shows household budgets are central to how voters see the country: 44% said their family finances were worse than two years ago, and 79% said inflation caused them severe or moderate hardship in the past year. Those figures frame affordability as the pressure point for household spending decisions heading into the next period.

In a poll of more than 79,000 people, 75% said the economy was in a not so good or poor state, and 59% were very concerned about petrol and diesel costs while 58% were very concerned about food and grocery prices. The survey measured perceptions and reported hardship rather than official price data.

The players

SSRS

A research firm that conducted the Voter Poll on behalf of a consortium of news companies, measuring public opinion that shapes how households view economic policy.

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, whose policies 65% of poll respondents said had worsened economic conditions, affecting prices and household budgets.

The details

The survey asked respondents how inflation and prices had affected their households, and the answers point to everyday costs as the main channel of concern: most voters tied higher prices to fuel and groceries. Of those who said prices were higher than usual, 62% attributed the increase more to Trump's policies, while 38% attributed it more to factors beyond his control. Household finances appear as a mixed picture, with 44% reporting worse conditions than two years earlier and only 18% reporting better ones.

November 3, 2026: election day, when the Voter Poll results were published

Money Landscape

The poll captures sustained household strain from prices, with 79% reporting inflation-driven hardship over the past year. It places affordability concern alongside the broader trend in consumer prices measured by the Consumer Price Index.

Households tracking fuel and grocery spending can use the poll's findings to gauge how widely these costs weigh on budgets. Those whose finances have worsened over two years may want to review monthly spending categories with a qualified financial professional.

The takeaway

The strongest money signal here is that cost pressure on fuel and groceries is the main source of household strain, not an abstract issue. Track your own fuel and grocery spending month to month so you can see whether it is changing against your budget.