Multiple national surveys released in September 2026 show that a majority of Americans report daily expenses have become less affordable since President Donald Trump took office. A POLITICO/Public First poll found that 76% of voters who backed Kamala Harris in 2024 and 55% of non-MAGA Trump voters say groceries, gas, and other expenses are less affordable. In contrast, only 28% of voters self-identifying with the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement agreed, with 39% of that group saying expenses have become more affordable.
The findings come as the Trump administration manages several economic and foreign policy factors, including an ongoing war with Iran and a tariff dispute with Canada. According to a University of Massachusetts Amherst poll conducted Aug. 21-26, 80% of Americans believe the war has increased inflation, while 4-in-5 respondents say the conflict has raised food and gas prices. The national average for regular unleaded gas rose from $4.31 to $4.43 in four days in mid-September, according to AAA data cited by The Hill.
Public opinion on economic responsibility remains divided by partisan identity. A survey conducted Sept. 13-15 found that 43% of respondents believe President Trump is mostly or fully responsible for the state of the economy, including 70% of Democrats and 19% of Republicans. Meanwhile, 29% of respondents placed greater blame on former President Joe Biden. Data from the Living Wage Institute shows that family budgets increased by 2.5% on average from early 2025 to early 2026.
The UMass Amherst poll also reported a decline in the president's overall job approval, which fell to 32% in August 2026. This includes a 14-percentage-point drop among Republicans since April 2025, falling from 89% to 75%. About 1-in-6 Trump voters now say they would change their 2024 vote if given the opportunity, and 58% of Trump voters say they remain "very confident" in their 2024 choice, down from 74% in April 2025.
The scale of this economic impact is reflected in the 2.5% increase in average household budgets over a single year, which translates to higher monthly costs for rent, utilities, and groceries for millions of families. While the Trump administration has stated that energy prices will "drop precipitously" once the Iran war ends, the current national average for gas has reached $4.43 per gallon, while diesel prices rose by 42 cents in a single week. These immediate costs in a person's bank account are affecting how they view the administration's military and trade policies.
For federal policy, these trends suggest that the current administration's economic agenda, including tariffs and military spending, faces a lack of consensus outside of the core MAGA base. If these approval ratings hold through the November midterms, the Republican party faces a documented risk of losing control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Voters will next head to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections in November to decide the makeup of the next Congress.