Story perspectives

65% Blame Trump Policies for High Prices, Poll Finds

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 10:22 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump received 17% approval for handling the cost of living, per an AP-NORC poll.
He earned 26% approval for overall economic handling, the lowest level of his second term.
65% of U.S. adults blame Trump’s policies for persistently high prices, surpassing external factors.
46% of respondents say they and their families are financially worse off since Trump took office in 2025.

History

Historical Context

In 1980 inflation hit 13.5% as oil shocks drove stagflation, leading President Jimmy Carter to impose credit controls and Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker to raise the federal funds rate sharply. The resulting loss of consumer confidence is reflected in a 2025 poll that found former President Donald Trump’s economic approval at a historic low.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump received 17% approval for handling the cost of living, per an AP-NORC poll.
He earned 26% approval for overall economic handling, the lowest level of his second term.
65% of U.S. adults blame Trump’s policies for persistently high prices, surpassing external factors.
46% of respondents say they and their families are financially worse off since Trump took office in 2025.

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