MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Inflation and the cost of living remain the biggest concern for Americans, according to the latest Marquette University Law School Poll.
The national survey found 35% of adults identified inflation and the cost of living as the country’s most important issue, marking the fourth consecutive Marquette poll in which it ranked first. The economy was a distant second at 15%, followed by the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States at 10%. Concern about the Iran conflict has declined significantly since April, when nearly one-quarter of respondents said it was their top issue.
Despite slight improvements in perceptions of the economy since May, the survey found Americans remain largely pessimistic. Nearly 80% of respondents said grocery and gasoline prices have increased over the past six months, while 69% expect inflation to continue rising over the next year. Only 19% said they are better off financially than they were a year ago.
The poll also found President Donald Trump’s overall job approval rose two percentage points since June, to 40%, though approval of his handling of inflation, the economy, the Iran war and gas prices remained at 30% or lower.
Looking ahead to the November midterm elections, Democrats hold a narrow 46% to 44% advantage over Republicans among registered voters on the generic congressional ballot. Among likely voters, the Democratic lead widens to 51% to 45%.
The survey also found increasingly negative views of Israel and U.S. military aid to Israel, particularly among younger adults and Democrats. Public skepticism of artificial intelligence also remains high, with 70% saying AI will be bad for society and 73% saying the costs of data centers outweigh their benefits.
The poll was conducted July 22-29, surveying 1,076 adults nationwide. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
