Sixty-five percent of Americans say President Trump’s policies drove higher prices, and that single number now defines Washington’s mood.
At a Glance
- Most adults blame Trump’s policies for higher prices; Republicans mostly do not.
- Only 26% approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, a new low in this series.
- Approval on cost of living is 17%, the sharpest pain point measured.
- More than half say the country and economy are worse since Trump’s reelection.
Poll shows a public sour on prices and performance
The Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago found a hard turn against President Trump on pocketbook issues. The survey reports that 65% of adults say higher-than-usual prices come from his policies. Only 26% approve of his handling of the economy, which the coverage describes as a new low for this poll series. Approval on cost of living drops further, to 17%, underscoring a price story that voters feel first and judge fast.
The poll used a probability-based national sample of 2,140 adults, fielded September 24–28, with a reported sampling margin of plus or minus 2.9 points. It combined online and telephone interviews through NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel. While any single poll has limits, this one shows aligned signals across questions: price blame, low approval on the economy, and poor ratings on the cost of living. Together, they point to a broad dissatisfaction with day-to-day costs.
Partisan split narrows the “blame Trump” headline
Republicans in the survey mostly point to forces beyond the president’s control, with 67% saying outside factors drove higher prices. That split matters because it clarifies that the 65% national figure is not a consensus across parties. Democrats and many independents assign responsibility to White House policy, while most Republicans reject that story. The divide shows how blame travels along partisan lines even when the grocery bill lands in every kitchen.
That partisan map also explains how the same prices can produce rival messages on the trail. Trump’s supporters cite wars, global supply shifts, and market shocks. His critics point to tariffs, regulation, and federal choices. The poll does not decide who is correct on causes; it records who voters hold to account. In politics, that is the currency that counts in October and November.
Why these numbers bite harder now
Persistently high prices change how people judge leaders. Research shows voters punish presidents more for economic pain than they reward them for gains. Inflation in particular tends to cut into incumbent support because it touches daily life and keeps touching it, week after week at the checkout line. The survey captures that effect in real time with low marks on the economy and cost of living that track with this pattern.
AP’s reporting links the mood to a wider backdrop that includes the war with Iran and ongoing strain on energy and goods markets. Those storylines turn price debates into broader tests of competence and focus. When more than half tell pollsters the country, national economy, and local economy are worse since Trump’s reelection, it signals not a passing complaint but a storyline that has settled in. Campaign messages have to confront that felt experience.
Method, meaning, and the path from data to decisions
The poll’s strength comes from its design and clarity. It spells out the field dates, the size of the sample, and the margin of sampling error. It distinguishes between two different judgments: approval of performance and attribution of price causes. Those are not the same. Both, however, tilt negative for Trump in this wave. That coherence gives lawmakers and campaigns a simple read on what voters want fixed first: prices that feel stuck on high.
Common sense for conservatives points to a playbook: reduce the price drivers the government controls, ease the burden where it can, and explain the plan in plain terms. Voters do not need a dissertation on global supply chains. They need a short list that cuts their bills and a timeline to see it. The data says the room is listening, but not for long. Talk solutions, own the tradeoffs, and show the first price drop fast.
