At least 35% of Americans in more than half of the nation's states, including five key battleground states, said they were having difficulty covering household expenses, according to a June and July survey released on Wednesday. The data comes against the backdrop of a U.S. presidential election in which voters have consistently cited the economy and inflation as top issues.
According to a U.S. Census Bureau household survey of 70,429 U.S. households conducted between June 25 and July 22, at least 35% of Americans in a staggering 33 states said they were having “somewhat or very difficultly paying for common expenses.” Axios NotesFive key battleground states where the presidential election could be close, plus Virginia, are among the areas where people are in extreme economic distress.
In Pennsylvania, for example, 35.1% of people said they were struggling to cover expenses amid an economy that has seen the highest inflation in 40 years under the Biden-Harris administration.
Another CNN/SSRS poll also found Published Keystone State voters on Wednesday overwhelmingly chose the economy (40%) as the most important issue in choosing a presidential candidate. The next most popular issue was “protecting democracy” at 27%, a 13-point difference.
In Georgia, where former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are neck and neck, the percentage of respondents who say they are struggling to make ends meet is even higher: More than four in 10 Georgians say they are, making Georgia one of the 10 states with the highest percentage of financially struggling residents.
This is reflected in a CNN/SSRS poll, which found 43% of Georgia voters say the economy is their top priority heading into the election.
Additionally, the Household Pulse survey found that 39.4% of Arizonans, 36% of Michiganders and 38.5% of Nevadans also feel they have difficulty covering their household expenses.
The CNN/SSRS poll found that majorities of voters in each state rank the economy as their top issue: 39 percent of Arizona voters said it was their top issue, and 38 percent of Michigan voters said the same. Four in 10 Nevadans chose the economy as the most important issue in this election.
Moreover, in Virginia, a typically Democratic state that the Harris campaign is currently defending, 35 percent of respondents in the Household Pulse Survey are struggling to make ends meet, even though Virginia was not in the CNN/SSRS poll's sample state.
The CNN/SSRS poll also found that voters in each state have more confidence in President Trump when it comes to the economy, Breitbart News reported.
- Arizona: (Trump +15) – Harris 37%, Trump 52%, Neither 11%
- Georgia: (Trump +4) – Harris 44%, Trump 48%, Neither 8%
- Michigan: (Trump +5) – Harris 44%, Trump 49%, Neither 7%
- Nevada: (Trump +16) – Harris 37%, Trump 53%, Neither 9%
- Pennsylvania: (Trump +8) – Harris 42%, Trump 50%, Neither 8%
- Wisconsin: (Trump +2) – Harris 45%, Trump 47%, Neither 8%
Public Opinion Poll sampling The survey surveyed 682 voters in Arizona, 617 in Georgia, 708 in Michigan, 626 in Nevada, 789 in Pennsylvania, and 976 in Wisconsin from August 23-29, 2024. Each state had a maximum margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
The investigation followed a CBS News report in late August. title “More and more Americans are having to choose between food and utility bills.”
Stacey Freeman of Fayetteville, North Carolina, told the outlet that she often has to balance paying her electricity bill with paying for other necessities.
“Sometimes you have to choose whether or not to pay your electricity bill,” Freeman said. said “Or should I pay all the rent, buy food, and not let my son play sports?”
