Half of Americans struggle to afford groceries and gas, exclusive poll finds

The Guardian ^ | Tue 7 Jul 2026 | Gaya Gupta

[anthropocene_x]

Ninety-five per cent of Americans believe the US is suffering an affordability crisis, as many report trouble with the rising cost of groceries and gas, according to a survey, conducted by Harris Poll.

Despite stable employment and record-high stock markets, more Americans believe the overall economy is getting worse (57%) than in February (46%), when the poll was last conducted and before the war in the Middle East sent gas prices soaring. Fewer people today also believe the economy is getting better (16%, compared with 28% in February) and more say their financial security has gotten worse.

Even rural Americans, a strong base for Republicans, are feeling more pessimistic: 64% say the economy is getting worse, compared with 46% who said the same in February.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; The Hobbit Hole; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: 123oclock4oclockzot; 2manytaxes2manylaws; concerntroll; concerntrolling; deficit; economy; fakenews; fakepolling; fakepolls; gayagupta; grauniad; harrispoll; inflation; jobs; leftistsource; misanthropex; moneyprintergobrrrr; multiplenicks; poll; polls; randspam; tds; tdstroll; tdstrolls; trollfarm

[Jim W N]

Big, unconstitutional gov't is very slowly but very steadily sapping the ecomomy and the income of Americans.

NUKE UNCONSTITUTIONAL GOV'T!!!

[AFret.]

However, cigarettes, marijuana, lottery tickets, tattoos, cell phones, video games, piercings and tickets to rock and rap concerts remain totally affordable.

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Cruises and Escalades are also in demand due to attractive pricing...

[bobbo666]

Fedgov’mt has confirmed that the illegals have caused housing prices to spike 30%.

So, uhh, why not the same for everything else?

[Texas Eagle]

Amen. We have three Starbuckses within a couple miles of each other in our little Northern Commiefornia town and I drive by 2 of them every day and those drive thru lanes are always full.

[mdmathis6]

yes but if you convert your pounds to dollars the that 35000 pounds becomes 47500 dollars.Still less per capita for brits vs Americans but not horrible.

[vis a vis]

Even if we are, at least we are luxuriating in A/C and free speech.

[TexasGator]

"I have seen much worse..."

[mewzilla]

Check out what passes for the methodology for that so-called poll.

[Harpotoo]

I live in raleigh and I don’t see that even at a 1/4 of the rate..

[EVO X]

Check out what passes for the methodology for that so-called poll.

About every poll I've seen over the years suggest ~50% of people live paycheck to paycheck and can't round up ~$1K for an emergency..

[mewzilla]

You don’t need a poll for that. Data abounds.

So why do a poll, eh?

[Fledermaus]

Half?

BS.

[EVO X]

So why do a poll, eh?

I guess pollsters have to make money somehow, so they sell it to media so they can distort the numbers and make money too..

[NEMDF]

fancy coffee, custom manicures, taking vacations whenever the mood strikes, delivery food orders, expensive vehicles with 7 year loans.....

[af_vet_1981]

Glad to see UK commies so concerned about Americans.

1. The polls were worse in 1776.
2. The British were really British in 1776.

[Pearfect]

WE CANT AFFORD TO BUY THE LEFT WING, COMMUNIST GUARDIAN !!!

So,we save our money !!!

[TexasGator]

I see that since your US civil war didn’t happen in 2025 as you predicted, the new date is 2030.

[TexasGator]

“I have seen much worse...”

Like when you sold everything to buy silver at $121 only to see it crash the next day?

[RetiredArmy]

Didn’t hear any of this bit(hing when Sleepy Criminal Joe was prez in snooze of the USA.

[kiryandil]

You should create and sell an Abel Reyna meme coin, delta7.

The TexasGoblin would go ALL IN on that.

You’d sell out your entire stock IN A DAY. You could price it at $120 a unit, say...😉😂😂🤣🤣