The sticker shock election: Inflation weighs heavily on voters' minds
Inflation and consumer prices are vastly outpacing other issues voters are worried about ahead of the midterm elections.
The latest poll results from YouGov match up with economic challenges in the Midwest. YouGov's weekly tracking of voters' concerns showed at the end of September, nearly 32% said increases in the prices of goods and services topped their issue list, more than double the second-highest result: jobs and the economy.
Frank Manzo, economist at the Midwest Economic Policy Institute, said many people are feeling financial pressure, including in the middle part of the country.
"Gas prices are over $4 in every single Midwest state except for one and diesel is over $6 per gallon everywhere. On top of that, then you of course have high mortgage rates. And so, what you're hearing is that people are struggling to afford the basic essentials and they're not very happy about it," Manzo stressed.
In Minnesota, gas prices have hovered around $4 a gallon and sometimes well north of the mark for the past two months. In the YouGov survey, the cost of living was the top issue for respondents across the political spectrum.
Manzo noted inflation and other economic pressures can have a profound effect on the Midwest because of its prowess as a manufacturing and agricultural hub.
"Then we transport those goods out to the rest of the country and to the world, and having transportation prices go higher has a negative impact on our states," Manzo explained.
He added the region is beginning to see the consequences, with slower job growth across the Midwest. Federal actions, including the decision to go to war with Iran and aggressive tariff policies, are closely tied to recent price shocks. While it might be a campaign issue this fall, Manzo added there appears to be a persistent worry obstacles for consumers will endure.
"Whether it's a prolonged war or the impacts of AI, that it may be potentially displacing workers. So, there's definitely concern about what the economy is and what it looks like going forward," Manzo underscored.
